My love is strengthened, though more weak in seeming;
I love not less, though less the show appear;
That love is merchandized, whose rich esteeming,
The owner's tongue doth publish every where.
Our love was new, and then but in the spring,
When I was wont to greet it with my lays;
As Philomel in summer's front doth sing,
And stops his pipe in growth of riper days:
Not that the summer is less pleasant now
Than when her mournful hymns did hush the night,
But that wild music burthens every bough,
And sweets grown common lose their dear delight.
Therefore like her, I sometime hold my tongue:
Because I would not dull you with my song.
"The 1609 Quarto Version"
MY loue is trengthned though more weake in ee-
I loue not lee,thogh lee the how appeare, (ming
That loue is marchandiz'd,whoe ritch eteeming,
The owners tongue doth publih euery where.
Our loue was new,and then but in the pring,
When I was wont to greet it with my laies,
As Philomell in ummers front doth inge,
And tops his pipe in growth of riper daies:
Not that the ummer is lee pleaant now
Than when her mournefull himns did huh the night,
But that wild muick burthens euery bow,
And weets growne common looe their deare delight,
Therefore like her, I ome-time hold my tongue:
Becaue I would not dull you with my onge.
Other works by William Shakespeare...
