William Shakespeare. 1564–1616

Sonnet CLII.

“In loving thee thou know’st I am forsworn”


IN loving thee thou know’st I am forsworn  
But thou art twice forsworn, to me love swearing;  
In act thy bed-vow broke, and new faith torn,  
In vowing new hate after new love bearing.  
But why of two oaths’ breach do I accuse thee,    5
When I break twenty? I am perjur’d most;  
For all my vows are oaths but to misuse thee,  
And all my honest faith in thee is lost:  
For I have sworn deep oaths of thy deep kindness,  
Oaths of thy love, thy truth, thy constancy;   10
And, to enlighten thee, gave eyes to blindness,  
Or made them swear against the thing they see;  
  For I have sworn thee fair; more perjur’d I,  
  To swear against the truth so foul a lie!