Shakespeare’s Sonnet #16: “But wherefore do not you a mightier way”

Sonnet 16

But wherefore do not you a mightier way
Make war upon this bloody tyrant, Time,
And fortify yourself in your decay
With means more blessèd than my barren rhyme?
Now stand you on the top of happy hours,
And many maiden gardens, yet unset,
With virtuous wish would bear your living flowers,
Much liker than your painted counterfeit.
So should the lines of life that life repair,
Which this time’s pencil, or my pupil pen,
Neither in inward worth nor outward fair,
Can make you live yourself in eyes of men.
To give away yourself keeps yourself still,
And you must live, drawn by your own sweet skill.

Simplified Modern English Translation

But wherefore do not you a mightier way
But why don’t you a mightier way

Make war upon this bloody tyrant, Time,
make war upon this bloody tyrant, Time,

And fortify yourself in your decay
and strengthen yourself as you age

With means more blessèd than my barren rhyme?
with means more blessed than my poetry.

Now stand you on the top of happy hours,
Now you are at the very pinnacle of your strength and beauty,

And many maiden gardens, yet unset,
and many willing young women,

With virtuous wish would bear your living flowers,
would truly love to bear your children,

Much liker than your painted counterfeit.
which would preserve your beauty much better than any painting, sculpture, or poetry.

So should the lines of life that life repair,
Only your living children, that you yourself have created,

Which this time’s pencil, or my pupil pen,
unlike any representation by a contemporary artist or a poet

Neither in inward worth nor outward fair,
which will fall short in worth and beauty,

Can make you live yourself in eyes of men.
can truly make you live in the eyes of the world.

To give away yourself keeps yourself still,
By giving away your essence to your wife, you are actually preserving your essence for posterity.

And you must live, drawn by your own sweet skill.
 And your essence must live on, created by your own sweet skill.

Reading of Sonnet 16

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:

But wherefore do not you a mightier waie
Make warre vppon this bloudie tirant time?
And fortifie your selfe in your decay
With meanes more blessed then my barren rime?
Now stand you on the top of happie houres,
And many maiden gardens yet vnset,
With vertuous wish would beare your liuing flowers,
Much liker then your painted counterfeit:
So should the lines of life that life repaire
Which this (Times pensel or my pupill pen)
Neither in inward worth nor outward faire
Can make you liue your selfe in eies of men,
To giue away your selfe, keeps your selfe still,
And you must liue drawne by your owne sweet skill.