Shakespeare's Sonnets Navigator Summary of Sonnet 138 in the Table of Contents Notes for Sonnet 138

Shakespeare's Sonnet 138


  1    When my love swears that she is made of truth,
  2    I do believe her, though I know she lies,
  3    That she might think me some untutor'd youth,
  4    Unlearned in the world's false subtleties.
  5    Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,
  6    Although she knows my days are past the best,
  7    Simply I credit her false-speaking tongue:
  8    On both sides thus is simple truth suppress'd.
  9    But wherefore says she not she is unjust?
 10    And wherefore say not I that I am old?
 11    O, love's best habit is in seeming trust,
 12    And age in love loves not t'have years told.
 13      Therefore I lie with her. and she with me,
 14      And in our faults by lies we flattered be.

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