Sonnet 129: The expense of spirit in a waste of shame

1The expense of spirit in a waste of shame

2Is lust in action: and till action, lust

3Is perjur'd, murderous, bloody, full of blame,

4Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust;

5Enjoy'd no sooner but despised straight;

6Past reason hunted; and no sooner had,

7Past reason hated, as a swallow'd bait,

8On purpose laid to make the taker mad:

9Mad in pursuit and in possession so;

10Had, having, and in quest, to have extreme;

11A bliss in proof, — and prov'd, a very woe;

12Before, a joy propos'd; behind a dream.

13 All this the world well knows; yet none knows well

14 To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell.