Sonnets

Sonnet 40

Take all my loves, my love, yea take them all,
What then more than hadst before?
No love, my love, that mayst true love call,
All mine was , before hadst this more:
Then if for my love, my love receivest,
I cannot blame , for my love usest,
But yet be blamed, if thyself deceivest
By wilful taste of what thyself refusest.
I do forgive robbery gentle thief
Although steal all my poverty:
And yet love knows it is a greater grief
To bear greater wrong, than hate’s known injury.
Lascivious grace, in whom all ill well shows,
Kill me with spites yet we must not be foes.

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Modern spelling for reading. The edition is public domain in the United States. Edition source.