Portaal:Shakespeare/Sonnet van de week 3

Sonnetten van Shakespeare, 1609

Sonnet 11 is een van de 154 sonnetten, geschreven door de Engelse toneelschrijver en dichter William Shakespeare. Het behoort tot de groep procreation sonnets (voortplantingssonnetten) uit de fair youth (schone jongeling)-reeks, waarin de spreker zich richt tot een jongeman om deze aan te manen te zorgen voor een nageslacht.

Shakespeares tekst bewerken

Sonnet 11

As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow'st
In one of thine from that which thou departest,
And that fresh blood which youngly thou bestow'st
Thou mayst call thine when thou from youth convertest.
Herein lives wisdom, beauty, and increase;
Without this, folly, age, and cold decay.
If all were minded so, the times should cease,
And threescore year would make the world away.
Let those whom nature hath not made for store,
Harsh, featureless, and rude, barrenly perish.
Look whom she best endowed she gave the more,
Which bounteous gift thou shouldst in bounty cherish.

She carved thee for her seal, and meant thereby
Thou shouldst print more, not let that copy die.