“ Thy glass will show thee how thy beauties wear, Thy dial how thy precious minutes waste; These vacant leaves thy mind's imprint will bear, And of this book, this learning mayst thou taste. ”
William Shakespeare, Shakespeare's Sonnets (1609). copy citation
| Author | William Shakespeare |
|---|---|
| Source | Shakespeare's Sonnets |
| Topic | time beauty |
| Date | 1609 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1041/1041-h/1041-h.htm |
Context
“And you and love are still my argument; So all my best is dressing old words new, Spending again what is already spent: For as the sun is daily new and old, So is my love still telling what is told. LXXVII Thy glass will show thee how thy beauties wear, Thy dial how thy precious minutes waste; These vacant leaves thy mind's imprint will bear, And of this book, this learning mayst thou taste. The wrinkles which thy glass will truly show Of mouthed graves will give thee memory; Thou by thy dial's shady stealth mayst know Time's thievish progress to eternity. Look! what thy memory cannot contain,”
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Meaning and analysis
