Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale/Text/Sonnet 144
For other versions of this work, see Sonnet 144 (Shakespeare).
144
Two loves I have of comfort and despair,
Which like two spirits do suggest me still:
The better angel is a man right fair,
The worser spirit a woman, colour'd ill. 4
To win me soon to hell, my female evil
Tempteth my better angel from my side,
And would corrupt my saint to be a devil,
Wooing his purity with her foul pride. 8
And whether that my angel be turn'd fiend
Suspect I may, but not directly tell;
But being both from me, both to each friend,
I guess one angel in another's hell: 12
Yet this shall I ne'er know, but live in doubt,
Till my bad angel fire my good one out.
1–14 Cf. n.
2 suggest: prompt
11 from me: away from me
to each: to each other
14 fire . . . out: drive out with fire