Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale/Text/Sonnet 113

For other versions of this work, see Sonnet 113 (Shakespeare).

113

Since I left you, mine eye is in my mind;
And that which governs me to go about
Doth part his function and is partly blind,
Seems seeing, but effectually is out; 4
For it no form delivers to the heart
Of bird, of flower, or shape, which it doth latch:
Of his quick objects hath the mind no part,
Nor his own vision holds what it doth catch; 8
For if it see the rud'st or gentlest sight,
The most sweet favour or deformed'st creature,
The mountain or the sea, the day or night,
The crow or dove, it shapes them to your feature: 12
Incapable of more, replete with you,
My most true mind thus maketh mine untrue.

3 Doth part his function: does but part of its natural work
4 effectually: practically
5 it: my eye
heart: mind
6 latch: catch
7 his: the eye's
8 his own: the eye's
10 favour: countenance
14 Cf. n.