Shakespeare Sunday: Sonnet Six

Therefore do not let yourself be weathered

From prime to shriveled shell of yourself

Rather you should let yourself be tethered 

Don't leave your potential dead on a shelf

To charge great interest would seem unfair,

But many women gladly pay this fee

As they gladly another you would bear

Or perhaps even ten-- wait and see 

Yes! As happy as you are, think of ten!

Oh ten whole times happier that should be

Yes, you will still die, but what then?

Just imagine how great a legacy!

Don't be greedy and try beauty to save,

Or your sole legacy will be your grave.

Original:

Then let not winter's ragged hand deface

In thee thy summer, ere thou be distill'd

Make sweet some vial; treasure thou some place

With beauty's treasure, ere it be self-kill'd.

That use is not forbidden usury,

Which happies those that pay the willing loan;

That's for thyself to breed another thee,

Or ten times happier, be it ten for one;

Ten times thyself were happier than thou art,

If ten of thine ten times refigured thee:

Then what could death do, if thou shouldst depart,

Leaving thee living in Posterity?

     Be not self will'd, for thou art much too fair,

     To be death's conquest and make worms thine heir