Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale/Text/Sonnet 42
For other versions of this work, see Sonnet 42 (Shakespeare).
42
That thou hast her, it is not all my grief,
And yet it may be said I lov'd her dearly;
That she hath thee, is of my wailing chief,
A loss in love that touches me more nearly. 4
Loving offenders, thus I will excuse ye:
Thou dost love her, because thou know'st I love her;
And for my sake even so doth she abuse me,
Suffering my friend for my sake to approve her. 8
If I lose thee, my loss is my love's gain,
And losing her, my friend hath found that loss;
Both find each other, and I lose both twain,
And both for my sake lay on me this cross: 12
But here's the joy; my friend and I are one;
Sweet flattery! then she loves but me alone.
3 chief: the main cause
7 abuse: misuse
8 approve: like, make trial of (?)
11 both twain: both the two