Shakespeare’s Sonnet #121 “‘Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed”

Sonnet 121

‘Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed,
When not to be receives reproach of being,
And the just pleasure lost which is so deemed
Not by our feeling but by others’ seeing.
For why should others’ false adulterate eyes
Give salutation to my sportive blood?
Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,
Which in their wills count bad what I think good?
No, I am that I am, and they that level
At my abuses reckon up their own.
I may be straight though they themselves be bevel;
By their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown,
Unless this general evil they maintain:
All men are bad, and in their badness reign.

Simplified Modern English Translation

‘Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed,
It is better to be vile, than thought to be vile,

When not to be receives reproach of being,
since one actually receives worse social reproach in the latter case,

And the just pleasure lost which is so deemed
and any personal pleasure lost in just being “thought” to be bad

Not by our feeling but by others’ seeing.
without feeling the enjoyment of the vice in reality.

For why should others’ false adulterate eyes
For why should the corrupt, adulterate eyes of others

Give salutation to my sportive blood?
assume they know the nature of my amorous blood?

Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,
Or on my frailties why are there even frailer spies,

Which in their wills count bad what I think good?
who condemn me for doing things that I consider fine.

No, I am that I am, and they that level
No, I am who I am, and those that point

At my abuses reckon up their own.
at my abuses, are actually thinking about their own.

I may be straight though they themselves be bevel;
I may be straight though they themselves be crooked.

By their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown,
My deeds cannot be judged by whatever is going through their minds.

Unless this general evil they maintain:
Unless this general evil they assert:

All men are bad, and in their badness reign.
All men are bad, and all men are ruled by the same frailties.

Reading of Sonnet 121

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.  

Text from Original 1609 Quarto

Transcription courtesy of University of Virginia Library:

Tis better to be vile then vile esteemed,
When not to be, receiues reproach of being,
And the iust pleasure lost, which is so deemed,
Not by our feeling, but by others seeing.
For why should others false adulterat eyes
Giue saluation to my sportiue blood?
Or on my frailties why are frailer spies;
Which in their wils count bad what I think good?
Noe, I am that I am, and they that leuell
At my abuses, reckon vp their owne,
I may be straight though they them-selues be beuel
*By their rancke thoughtes, my deedes must not be shown
Vnlesse this general euill they maintaine,
All men are bad and in their badnesse raigne.

 

* indicates fully justified line, compositor may have adjusted spelling to fit the line.