William Shakespeare. 1564–1616

Sonnet CXV.

“Those lines that I before have writ do lie”


THOSE lines that I before have writ do lie  
Even those that said I could not love you dearer:  
Yet then my judgment knew no reason why  
My most full flame should afterwards burn clearer.  
But reckoning Time, whose million’d accidents    5
Creep in ’twixt vows, and change decrees of kings,  
Tan sacred beauty, blunt the sharp’st intents,  
Divert strong minds to the course of altering things;  
Alas! why, fearing of Time’s tyranny,  
Might I not then say, ‘Now I love you best,’   10
When I was certain o’er incertainty,  
Crowning the present, doubting of the rest?  
  Love is a babe; then might I not say so,  
  To give full growth to that which still doth grow?