Shakespeare’s Sonnet #10: “For shame deny that thou bear’st love to any”
For thou art so possess’d with murd’rous hate
That ‘gainst thyself thou stick’st not to conspire,
Reading of Sonnet 10
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The images in the YouTube video are from an original 1609 edition of Shake-speares Sonnets held by the British Library. It is one of only thirteen copies in existence. Images courtesy of the Octavo Corporation.
Modernized Spelling and Punctuation
For shame deny that thou bear’st love to any,
Who for thyself art so unprovident.
Grant, if thou wilt, thou art beloved of many,
But that thou none lov’st is most evident;
For thou art so possess’d with murd’rous hate
That ‘gainst thyself thou stick’st not to conspire,
Seeking that beauteous roof to ruinate
Which to repair should be thy chief desire.
O change thy thought, that I may change my mind.
Shall hate be fairer lodged than gentle love?
Be, as thy presence is, gracious and kind,
Or to thyself at least kind-hearted prove.
Make thee another self for love of me,
That beauty still may live in thine or thee.
Simplified Modern English Translation
Please admit that you have no love for anyone,
since you are being so shortsighted and reckless by remaining single.
Although it is certainly true that many love you,
the fact that you love no one else is clearly evident.
In fact, your are possessed with such murderous hatred,
that you are even conspiring against yourself
by choosing to end your family’s line,
which to propagate should be your most important responsibility.
Please change your decision so that I may change my assessment of you.
Why would you embrace hate rather than love?
Be the same way that you look on the outside: gracious and kind;
or at least pretend to be kind-hearted in your actions.
Listen: just do it for me;
so that beauty may still reside in you – and your children.
Text from Original 1609 Quarto
Transcription courtesy of University of Virginia Library:
For shame deny that thou bear’st loue to any
Who for thy selfe art so vnprouident
Graunt if thou wilt, thou art belou’d of many,
But that thou none lou’st is most euident:
For thou art so possest with murdrous hate,
That gainst thy selfe thou stickst not to conspire,
Seeking that beautious roofe to ruinate
Which to repaire should be thy chiefe desire:
O change thy thought, that I may change my minde,
Shall hate be fairer log’d then gentle loue?
Be as thy presence is gracious and kind,
Or to thy selfe at least kind harted proue,
Make thee an other selfe for loue of me,
That beauty still may liue in thine or thee.