Sonnet Twenty-three by William Shakespeare

Click here for a complete INDEX

Sonnet XXIII

by William Shakespeare

 

As an unperfect actor on the stage,

Who with his fear is put beside his part,

Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,

Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart;

So I, for fear of trust, forget to say

The perfect ceremony of love's rite,

And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,

O'ercharged with burthen of mine own love's might.

O! Let my looks be then the eloquence

And dumb presagers of my speaking breast,

Who plead for love, and look for recompense,

More than that tongue that more hath more express'd.

O! Learn to read what silent love hath writ:

To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.

 

LITERATURE OUT LOUD -- see and hear great literature Audio narrations with synchronized visual text

Click on the player below to hear the audio version of this sonnet.

Sonnet 23