Sonnet Forty-two

Click here for a complete INDEX

Sonnet XLII

by William Shakespeare

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 knowst I love her;

And for my sake even so doth she abuse me,

Suffering 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.

 

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 42