William Shakespeare
1564-1616
Sonnet LXXXV
My tongue-tied
Muse in manners holds her still,
While comments of
your praise richly compil'd,
Reserve their character
with golden quill,
And precious phrase
by all the Muses fil'd.
I think good thoughts,
whilst others write good words,
And like unlettered
clerk still cry 'Amen'
To every hymn that
able spirit affords,
In polish'd form of
well-refined pen.
Hearing you praised,
I say ''tis so, 'tis true,'
And to the most of
praise add something more;
But that is in my
thought, whose love to you,
Though words come
hindmost, holds his rank before.
Then others, for the breath of words respect,
Me for my dumb thoughts, speaking in effect.
|