Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale/Text/Sonnet 110
110
Alas! 'tis true I have gone here and there,
And made myself a motley to the view,
Gor'd mine own thoughts, sold cheap what is most dear,
Made old offences of affections new; 4
Most true it is that I have look'd on truth
Askance and strangely; but, by all above,
These blenches gave my heart another youth,
And worse essays prov'd thee my best of love. 8
Now all is done, have what shall have no end:
Mine appetite I never more will grind
On newer proof, to try an older friend,
A god in love, to whom I am confin'd. 12
Then give me welcome, next my heaven the best,
Even to thy pure and most most loving breast.
1, 2 Cf. n.
2 motley: jester
3 Gor'd: wounded
4 Made old . . . new: offended in forsaking old friends for new
7 blenches: inconstancies
gave . . . youth: brought me back to youthful love
8 worse essays: trials of the worse
9 have what . . . end: take my unending love
10 grind: whet