Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale/Text/Sonnet 138
For other versions of this work, see Sonnet 138 (Shakespeare).
138
When my love swears that she is made of truth,
I do believe her, though I know she lies,
That she might think me some untutor'd youth,
Unlearned in the world's false subtleties. 4
Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,
Although she knows my days are past the best,
Simply I credit her false-speaking tongue:
On both sides thus is simple truth supprest. 8
But wherefore says she not she is unjust?
And wherefore say not I that I am old?
O, love's best habit is in seeming trust,
And age in love loves not to have years told: 12
Therefore I lie with her, and she with me,
And in our faults by lies we flatter'd be.
1–14 Cf. n.
7 Simply: absolutely
9 unjust: false