William Shakespeare
1564-1616
Sonnet CXXI
'Tis better
to be vile than vile esteem'd,
When not to be receives
reproach of being;
And the just pleasure
lost, which is so deem'd
Not by our feeling,
but by others' seeing:
For why should others'
false adulterate eyes
Give salutation to
my sportive blood?
Or on my frailties
why are frailer spies,
Which in their wills
count bad what I think good?
No, I am that I am,
and they that level
At my abuses reckon
up their own:
I may be straight
though they themselves be bevel;
By their rank thoughts,
my deeds must not be shown;
Unless this general evil they maintain,
All men are bad and in their badness reign.
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