Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONNET: 129, by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE



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SONNET: 129, by         Recitation     Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The expense of spirit in a waste of shame / is lust in action
Last Line: To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell.
Variant Title(s): "past Reason Hunted;""th' Expense Of Spirit In A Waste Of Shame"";sonnet #129;
Subject(s): Love; Lust


The expense of spirit in a waste of shame
Is lust in action; and till action, lust
Is perjured, murderous, bloody, full of blame,
Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust,
Enjoy'd no sooner but despised straight,
Past reason hunted, and no sooner had
Past reason hated, as a swallow'd bait
On purpose laid to make the taker mad;
Mad in pursuit and in possession so;
Had, having, and in quest to have, extreme;
A bliss in proof, and proved, a very woe;
Before, a joy proposed; behind, a dream.
All this the world well knows; yet none knows well
To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell.





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