Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale/Text/Sonnet 44
44
If the dull substance of my flesh were thought,
Injurious distance should not stop my way;
For then, despite of space, I would be brought,
From limits far remote, where thou dost stay. 4
No matter then although my foot did stand
Upon the furthest earth remov'd from thee;
For nimble thought can jump both sea and land,
As soon as think the place where he would be. 8
But, ah! thought kills me that I am not thought,
To leap large lengths of miles when thou art gone,
But that, so much of earth and water wrought,
I must attend time's leisure with my moan; 12
Receiving nought by elements so slow
But heavy tears, badges of either's woe.
4 where: to the place where
6 furthest earth remov'd: plot of earth most remote
9 thought kills me: melancholy kills me (?), it kills me to think (?)
11 wrought: made, created
14 badges of either's woe; cf. n.