Shakespeare, Sonnet 29

The copy-text is Shake-speares Sonnets Never Before Imprinted (London, 1609). I’ve regularized the use of i and j, u and v, but have otherwise preserved the spelling, capitalization, and punctuation of the original. The notes are my own.

	When in disgrace with Fortune and mens eyes,
	I all alone beweepe° my out-cast state,°	lament — situation
	And trouble deafe heaven with my bootlesse° cries.	pointless
	And looke upon my selfe and curse my fate,
	Wishing me like to one° more rich in hope,	wishing I were more like one
	Featur’d like him, like him with friends possest,
	Desiring this mans art, and that mans skope,
	With what I most injoy contented least,
	Yet in these thoughts my selfe almost despising,
	Haplye° I thinke on thee, and then my state,°	by chance — situation
	(Like to the Larke at breake of daye arising)
	From sullen earth sings himns at Heavens gate,
	For thy sweet love remembred such welth brings,
	That then I skorne to change my state° with Kings.	situation

Notes

Featur’d like hime: That is, having features like him.
art: A notoriously complicated word. Here it probably means “Skill as the result of knowledge and practice” (SOED).
skope: Another tricky word. It probably means “The reach or range of a person’s mental activity or perception; extent of view, sweep of outlook” (SOED).
sullen: The adjective is usually applied to people, in which case it means “characterized by gloomy ill humour; morose”; here it seems to mean “dismal, melancholy” (SOED).

Sonnet 29

William Shakespeare

Edited by Jack Lynch

Notes