William Shakespeare
1564-1616
Sonnet CXXXVIII
When my love
swears that she is made of truth,
I do believe her though
I know she lies,
That she might think
me some untutor'd youth,
Unlearned in the world's
false subtleties.
Thus vainly thinking
that she thinks me young,
Although she knows
my days are past the best,
Simply I credit her
false-speaking tongue:
On both sides thus
is simple truth suppressed:
But wherefore says
she not she is unjust?
And wherefore say
not I that I am old?
O! love's best habit
is in seeming trust,
And age in love, loves
not to have years told:
Therefore I lie with her, and she with me,
And in our faults by lies we flatter'd be.
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