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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SONNET: 23, by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: As an unperfect actor on the stage
Last Line: To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.
First Line: As an unperfect actor on the stage
Last Line: To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.
As an unperfect actor on the stage
Who with his fear is put besides his part,
Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,
Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart.
So I, for fear of trust, forget to say
The perfect ceremony of love's rite,
And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,
O'ercharged with burden of mine own love's might.
O, let my books be then the eloquence
And dumb presagers of my speaking breast,
Who plead for love and look for recompense
More than that tongue that more hath more express'd.
O, learn to read what silent love hath writ:
To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.
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Other Poems of Interest...
APRIL, FR. LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
ARIEL'S SONG (1) [OR, DIRGE] [OR, A SEA DIRGE]. FR. THE TEMPEST by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
ARIEL'S SONG (2), FR. THE TEMPEST by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
AUBADE [OR, A MORNING SONG FOR IMOGEN], FR. CYMBELINE by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
CALIBAN [ON THE ISLAND], FR. THE TEMPEST by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
FANCY, FR. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
FESTE'S SONG (1), FR. TWELFTH NIGHT by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
FESTE'S SONG (2), FR. TWELFTH NIGHT by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
FRIENDSHIP [OR, THE TRUE FRIEND] by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
HEALTHFUL OLD AGE, FR. AS YOU LIKE IT by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
IMAGINATION, FR. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE