3  
William Shakespeare. 1564–1616

Sonnet XXXIV.

“Why didst thou promise such a beauteous day”


WHY didst thou promise such a beauteous day  
And make me travel forth without my cloak,  
To let base clouds o’ertake me in my way,  
Hiding thy bravery in their rotten smoke?  
’Tis not enough that through the cloud thou break,    5
To dry the rain on my storm-beaten face,  
For no man well of such a salve can speak  
That heals the wound and cures not the disgrace:  
Nor can thy shame give physic to my grief;  
Though thou repent, yet I have still the loss:   10
The offender’s sorrow lends but weak relief  
To him that bears the strong offence’s cross.  
  Ah! but those tears are pearl which thy love sheds,  
  And they are rich and ransom all ill deeds.