Shakespeare's Sonnets Navigator Summary of Sonnet 131 in the Table of Contents Notes for Sonnet 131

Shakespeare's Sonnet 131


  1    Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou art,
  2    As those whose beauties proudly make them cruel;
  3    For well thou know'st to my dear doting heart
  4    Thou art the fairest and most precious jewel.
  5    Yet, in good faith, some say that thee behold,
  6    Thy face hath not the power to make love groan;
  7    To say they err I dare not be so bold,
  8    Although I swear it to myself alone.
  9    And, to be sure that is not false I swear,
 10    A thousand groans, but thinking on thy face,
 11    One on another's neck, do witness bear
 12    Thy black is fairest in my judgment's place.
 13      In nothing art thou black save in thy deeds,
 14      And thence this slander, as I think, proceeds.

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