William Shakespeare: Sonnet 042

William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

THE SONNETS

 

42

That thou hast her it is not all my grief,

And yet it may be said I loved her dearly,

That she hath thee is of my wailing chief,

A loss in love that touches me more nearly.

Loving offenders thus I will excuse ye,

Thou dost love her, because thou know’st I love her,

And for my sake even so doth she abuse me,

Suff’ring my friend for my sake to approve her.

If I lose thee, my loss is my love’s gain,

And losing her, my friend hath found that loss,

Both find each other, and I lose both twain,

And both for my sake lay on me this cross,

But here’s the joy, my friend and I are one,

Sweet flattery, then she loves but me alone.

kempis poetry magazine

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