Sonnet XLIX, by William Shakespeare

Against that time--if ever that time come--
When I shall see thee frown on my defects,
Whenas thy love hath cast his utmost sum,
Called to that audit by advised respects;
Against that time when thou shalt strangely pass
And scarcely greet me with that sun, thine eye,
When love converted from the thing it was
Shall reasons find of settled gravity:
Against that time do I ensconce me here
Within the knowledge of mine own desert,
And this my hand against myself uprear
To guard the lawful reasons on thy part.
  To leave poor me thou hast the strength of laws,
  Since why to love I can allege no cause.

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This is the sonnet of a man too often wronged in love. I like it. I don't want my interrupted loves to leave me bitter and "lost in the knowledge of mine own desert", tho'... -Ed.

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