Poet
William Shakespeare
English poet · 1564–1616
Sonnet 18Sonnet 116Sonnet 130
Beyond the plays, Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets that remain the most quoted love poems in the English language. Published together in 1609, they trace love, jealousy, time, beauty, and mortality through a strict fourteen-line form he made so much his own that it is now called the Shakespearean sonnet.
The sonnets fall roughly into two groups — one addressed to a young man ("Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?") and one to the mysterious "Dark Lady" ("My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun").
Four centuries on, lines from the sonnets still appear in wedding readings, anniversary cards, and vows every single day.
154 poems by William Shakespeare
Full text, free to read — all in the public domain.
Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
William Shakespeare · 1609
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?Thou art more lovely and more temperate:Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
14 lines · sonnet
Sonnet 116: Let me not to the marriage of true minds
William Shakespeare · 1609
Let me not to the marriage of true mindsAdmit impediments. Love is not loveWhich alters when it alteration finds,
14 lines · sonnet
- Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?…14 lines
- Sonnet 116: Let me not to the marriage of true mindsLet me not to the marriage of true minds…14 lines
- Sonnet 130: My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sunMy mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;…14 lines
- Sonnet 1: From fairest creatures we desire increaseFrom fairest creatures we desire increase,…14 lines
- Sonnet 10: For shame! deny that thou bear'st love to anyFor shame! deny that thou bear'st love to any,…14 lines
- Sonnet 100: Where art thou Muse that thou forget'st so longWhere art thou Muse that thou forget'st so long,…14 lines
- Sonnet 101: O truant Muse what shall be thy amendsO truant Muse what shall be thy amends…14 lines
- Sonnet 102: My love is strengthen'd, though more weak in seemingMy love is strengthen'd, though more weak in seeming;…14 lines
- Sonnet 103: Alack! what poverty my Muse brings forthAlack! what poverty my Muse brings forth,…14 lines
- Sonnet 104: To me, fair friend, you never can be oldTo me, fair friend, you never can be old,…14 lines
- Sonnet 105: Let not my love be call'd idolatryLet not my love be call'd idolatry,…14 lines
- Sonnet 106: When in the chronicle of wasted timeWhen in the chronicle of wasted time…14 lines
- Sonnet 107: Not mine own fears, nor the prophetic soulNot mine own fears, nor the prophetic soul…14 lines
- Sonnet 108: What's in the brain, that ink may characterWhat's in the brain, that ink may character,…14 lines
- Sonnet 109: O! never say that I was false of heartO! never say that I was false of heart,…14 lines
- Sonnet 11: As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow'stAs fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow'st,…14 lines
- Sonnet 110: Alas! 'tis true, I have gone here and thereAlas! 'tis true, I have gone here and there,…14 lines
- Sonnet 111: O! for my sake do you with Fortune chideO! for my sake do you with Fortune chide,…14 lines
- Sonnet 112: Your love and pity doth the impression fillYour love and pity doth the impression fill,…14 lines
- Sonnet 113: Since I left you, mine eye is in my mindSince I left you, mine eye is in my mind;…14 lines
- Sonnet 114: Or whether doth my mind, being crown'd with youOr whether doth my mind, being crown'd with you,…14 lines
- Sonnet 115: Those lines that I before have writ do lieThose lines that I before have writ do lie,…14 lines
- Sonnet 117: Accuse me thus: that I have scanted allAccuse me thus: that I have scanted all,…14 lines
- Sonnet 118: Like as, to make our appetite more keenLike as, to make our appetite more keen,…14 lines
- Sonnet 119: What potions have I drunk of Siren tearsWhat potions have I drunk of Siren tears,…14 lines
- Sonnet 12: When I do count the clock that tells the timeWhen I do count the clock that tells the time,…14 lines
- Sonnet 120: That you were once unkind befriends me nowThat you were once unkind befriends me now,…14 lines
- Sonnet 121: 'Tis better to be vile than vile esteem'd'Tis better to be vile than vile esteem'd,…14 lines
- Sonnet 122: Thy gift, thy tables, are within my brainThy gift, thy tables, are within my brain…14 lines
- Sonnet 123: No, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do changeNo, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do change:…14 lines
- Sonnet 124: If my dear love were but the child of stateIf my dear love were but the child of state,…14 lines
- Sonnet 125: Were't aught to me I bore the canopyWere't aught to me I bore the canopy,…14 lines
- Sonnet 126: O thou, my lovely boy, who in thy powerO thou, my lovely boy, who in thy power…12 lines
- Sonnet 127: In the old age black was not counted fairIn the old age black was not counted fair,…14 lines
- Sonnet 128: How oft when thou, my music, music play'stHow oft when thou, my music, music play'st,…14 lines
- Sonnet 129: The expense of spirit in a waste of shameThe expense of spirit in a waste of shame…14 lines
- Sonnet 13: O! that you were your self; but, love you areO! that you were your self; but, love you are…14 lines
- Sonnet 131: Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou artThou art as tyrannous, so as thou art,…14 lines
- Sonnet 132: Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying meThine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me,…14 lines
- Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groanBeshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan…14 lines
- Sonnet 134: So, now I have confess'd that he is thineSo, now I have confess'd that he is thine,…14 lines
- Sonnet 135: Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy 'Will,'Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy 'Will,'…14 lines
- Sonnet 136: If thy soul check thee that I come so nearIf thy soul check thee that I come so near,…14 lines
- Sonnet 137: Thou blind fool, Love, what dost thou to mine eyesThou blind fool, Love, what dost thou to mine eyes,…14 lines
- Sonnet 138: When my love swears that she is made of truthWhen my love swears that she is made of truth,…14 lines
- Sonnet 139: O! call not me to justify the wrongO! call not me to justify the wrong…14 lines
- Sonnet 14: Not from the stars do I my judgement pluckNot from the stars do I my judgement pluck;…14 lines
- Sonnet 140: Be wise as thou art cruel; do not pressBe wise as thou art cruel; do not press…14 lines
- Sonnet 141: In faith I do not love thee with mine eyesIn faith I do not love thee with mine eyes,…14 lines
- Sonnet 142: Love is my sin, and thy dear virtue hateLove is my sin, and thy dear virtue hate,…14 lines
- Sonnet 143: Lo, as a careful housewife runs to catchLo, as a careful housewife runs to catch…14 lines
- Sonnet 144: Two loves I have of comfort and despairTwo loves I have of comfort and despair,…14 lines
- Sonnet 145: Those lips that Love's own hand did makeThose lips that Love's own hand did make,…14 lines
- Sonnet 146: Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earthPoor soul, the centre of my sinful earth,…14 lines
- Sonnet 147: My love is as a fever longing stillMy love is as a fever longing still,…14 lines
- Sonnet 148: O me! what eyes hath Love put in my headO me! what eyes hath Love put in my head,…14 lines
- Sonnet 149: Canst thou, O cruel! say I love thee notCanst thou, O cruel! say I love thee not,…14 lines
- Sonnet 15: When I consider every thing that growsWhen I consider every thing that grows…14 lines
- Sonnet 150: O! from what power hast thou this powerful mightO! from what power hast thou this powerful might,…14 lines
- Sonnet 151: Love is too young to know what conscience isLove is too young to know what conscience is,…14 lines
- Sonnet 152: In loving thee thou know'st I am forswornIn loving thee thou know'st I am forsworn,…14 lines
- Sonnet 153: Cupid laid by his brand and fell asleepCupid laid by his brand and fell asleep:…14 lines
- Sonnet 154: The little Love-god lying once asleepThe little Love-god lying once asleep,…14 lines
- Sonnet 16: But wherefore do not you a mightier wayBut wherefore do not you a mightier way…14 lines
- Sonnet 17: Who will believe my verse in time to comeWho will believe my verse in time to come,…14 lines
- Sonnet 19: Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion's pawsDevouring Time, blunt thou the lion's paws,…14 lines
- Sonnet 2: When forty winters shall besiege thy browWhen forty winters shall besiege thy brow,…14 lines
- Sonnet 20: A woman's face with nature's own hand paintedA woman's face with nature's own hand painted,…14 lines
- Sonnet 21: So is it not with me as with that MuseSo is it not with me as with that Muse,…14 lines
- Sonnet 22: My glass shall not persuade me I am oldMy glass shall not persuade me I am old,…14 lines
- Sonnet 23: As an unperfect actor on the stageAs an unperfect actor on the stage,…14 lines
- Sonnet 24: Mine eye hath play'd the painter and hath stell'dMine eye hath play'd the painter and hath stell'd,…14 lines
- Sonnet 25: Let those who are in favour with their starsLet those who are in favour with their stars…14 lines
- Sonnet 26: Lord of my love, to whom in vassalageLord of my love, to whom in vassalage…14 lines
- Sonnet 27: Weary with toil, I haste me to my bedWeary with toil, I haste me to my bed,…14 lines
- Sonnet 28: How can I then return in happy plightHow can I then return in happy plight,…14 lines
- Sonnet 29: When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyesWhen in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes…14 lines
- Sonnet 3: Look in thy glass and tell the face thou viewestLook in thy glass and tell the face thou viewest…14 lines
- Sonnet 30: When to the sessions of sweet silent thoughtWhen to the sessions of sweet silent thought…14 lines
- Sonnet 31: Thy bosom is endeared with all heartsThy bosom is endeared with all hearts,…14 lines
- Sonnet 32: If thou survive my well-contented dayIf thou survive my well-contented day,…14 lines
- Sonnet 33: Full many a glorious morning have I seenFull many a glorious morning have I seen…14 lines
- Sonnet 34: Why didst thou promise such a beauteous dayWhy didst thou promise such a beauteous day,…14 lines
- Sonnet 35: No more be griev'd at that which thou hast doneNo more be griev'd at that which thou hast done:…14 lines
- Sonnet 36: Let me confess that we two must be twainLet me confess that we two must be twain,…14 lines
- Sonnet 37: As a decrepit father takes delightAs a decrepit father takes delight…14 lines
- Sonnet 38: How can my muse want subject to inventHow can my muse want subject to invent,…14 lines
- Sonnet 39: O! how thy worth with manners may I singO! how thy worth with manners may I sing,…14 lines
- Sonnet 4: Unthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spendUnthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spend…14 lines
- Sonnet 40: Take all my loves, my love, yea take them allTake all my loves, my love, yea take them all;…14 lines
- Sonnet 41: Those pretty wrongs that liberty commitsThose pretty wrongs that liberty commits,…14 lines
- Sonnet 42: That thou hast her it is not all my griefThat thou hast her it is not all my grief,…14 lines
- Sonnet 43: When most I wink, then do mine eyes best seeWhen most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,…14 lines
- Sonnet 44: If the dull substance of my flesh were thoughtIf the dull substance of my flesh were thought,…14 lines
- Sonnet 45: The other two, slight air, and purging fireThe other two, slight air, and purging fire…14 lines
- Sonnet 46: Mine eye and heart are at a mortal warMine eye and heart are at a mortal war,…14 lines
- Sonnet 47: Betwixt mine eye and heart a league is tookBetwixt mine eye and heart a league is took,…14 lines
- Sonnet 48: How careful was I when I took my wayHow careful was I when I took my way,…14 lines
- Sonnet 49: Against that time, if ever that time comeAgainst that time, if ever that time come,…14 lines
- Sonnet 5: Those hours, that with gentle work did frameThose hours, that with gentle work did frame…14 lines
- Sonnet 50: How heavy do I journey on the wayHow heavy do I journey on the way,…14 lines
- Sonnet 51: Thus can my love excuse the slow offenceThus can my love excuse the slow offence…14 lines
- Sonnet 52: So am I as the rich, whose blessed keySo am I as the rich, whose blessed key,…14 lines
- Sonnet 53: What is your substance, whereof are you madeWhat is your substance, whereof are you made,…14 lines
- Sonnet 54: O! how much more doth beauty beauteous seemO! how much more doth beauty beauteous seem…14 lines
- Sonnet 55: Not marble, nor the gilded monumentsNot marble, nor the gilded monuments…14 lines
- Sonnet 56: Sweet love, renew thy force; be it not saidSweet love, renew thy force; be it not said…14 lines
- Sonnet 57: Being your slave what should I do but tendBeing your slave what should I do but tend,…14 lines
- Sonnet 58: That god forbid, that made me first your slaveThat god forbid, that made me first your slave,…14 lines
- Sonnet 59: If there be nothing new, but that which isIf there be nothing new, but that which is…14 lines
- Sonnet 6: Then let not winter's ragged hand defaceThen let not winter's ragged hand deface,…14 lines
- Sonnet 60: Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shoreLike as the waves make towards the pebbled shore,…14 lines
- Sonnet 61: Is it thy will, thy image should keep openIs it thy will, thy image should keep open…14 lines
- Sonnet 62: Sin of self-love possesseth all mine eyeSin of self-love possesseth all mine eye…14 lines
- Sonnet 63: Against my love shall be as I am nowAgainst my love shall be as I am now,…14 lines
- Sonnet 64: When I have seen by Time's fell hand defac'dWhen I have seen by Time's fell hand defac'd…14 lines
- Sonnet 65: Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless seaSince brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea,…14 lines
- Sonnet 66: Tired with all these, for restful death I cryTired with all these, for restful death I cry,…14 lines
- Sonnet 67: Ah! wherefore with infection should he liveAh! wherefore with infection should he live,…14 lines
- Sonnet 68: Thus is his cheek the map of days outwornThus is his cheek the map of days outworn,…14 lines
- Sonnet 69: Those parts of thee that the world's eye doth viewThose parts of thee that the world's eye doth view…14 lines
- Sonnet 7: Lo! in the orient when the gracious lightLo! in the orient when the gracious light…14 lines
- Sonnet 70: That thou art blam'd shall not be thy defectThat thou art blam'd shall not be thy defect,…14 lines
- Sonnet 71: No longer mourn for me when I am deadNo longer mourn for me when I am dead…14 lines
- Sonnet 72: O! lest the world should task you to reciteO! lest the world should task you to recite…14 lines
- Sonnet 73: That time of year thou mayst in me beholdThat time of year thou mayst in me behold…14 lines
- Sonnet 74: But be contented: when that fell arrestBut be contented: when that fell arrest…14 lines
- Sonnet 75: So are you to my thoughts as food to lifeSo are you to my thoughts as food to life,…14 lines
- Sonnet 76: Why is my verse so barren of new prideWhy is my verse so barren of new pride,…14 lines
- Sonnet 77: Thy glass will show thee how thy beauties wearThy glass will show thee how thy beauties wear,…14 lines
- Sonnet 78: So oft have I invoked thee for my MuseSo oft have I invoked thee for my Muse,…14 lines
- Sonnet 79: Whilst I alone did call upon thy aidWhilst I alone did call upon thy aid,…14 lines
- Sonnet 8: Music to hear, why hear'st thou music sadly?Music to hear, why hear'st thou music sadly?…14 lines
- Sonnet 80: O! how I faint when I of you do writeO! how I faint when I of you do write,…14 lines
- Sonnet 81: Or I shall live your epitaph to makeOr I shall live your epitaph to make,…14 lines
- Sonnet 82: I grant thou wert not married to my MuseI grant thou wert not married to my Muse,…14 lines
- Sonnet 83: I never saw that you did painting needI never saw that you did painting need,…14 lines
- Sonnet 84: Who is it that says most, which can say moreWho is it that says most, which can say more,…14 lines
- Sonnet 85: My tongue-tied Muse in manners holds her stillMy tongue-tied Muse in manners holds her still,…14 lines
- Sonnet 86: Was it the proud full sail of his great verseWas it the proud full sail of his great verse,…14 lines
- Sonnet 87: Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessingFarewell! thou art too dear for my possessing,…14 lines
- Sonnet 88: When thou shalt be dispos'd to set me lightWhen thou shalt be dispos'd to set me light,…14 lines
- Sonnet 89: Say that thou didst forsake me for some faultSay that thou didst forsake me for some fault,…14 lines
- Sonnet 9: Is it for fear to wet a widow's eyeIs it for fear to wet a widow's eye,…14 lines
- Sonnet 90: Then hate me when thou wilt; if ever, nowThen hate me when thou wilt; if ever, now;…14 lines
- Sonnet 91: Some glory in their birth, some in their skillSome glory in their birth, some in their skill,…14 lines
- Sonnet 92: But do thy worst to steal thyself awayBut do thy worst to steal thyself away,…14 lines
- Sonnet 93: So shall I live, supposing thou art trueSo shall I live, supposing thou art true,…14 lines
- Sonnet 94: They that have power to hurt, and will do noneThey that have power to hurt, and will do none,…14 lines
- Sonnet 95: How sweet and lovely dost thou make the shameHow sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame…14 lines
- Sonnet 96: Some say thy fault is youth, some wantonnessSome say thy fault is youth, some wantonness;…14 lines
- Sonnet 97: How like a winter hath my absence beenHow like a winter hath my absence been…14 lines
- Sonnet 98: From you have I been absent in the springFrom you have I been absent in the spring,…14 lines
- Sonnet 99: The forward violet thus did I chideThe forward violet thus did I chide:…15 lines