Sonnet 16: But wherefore do not you a mightier way

William Shakespeare 1564 (Stratford-upon-Avon) – 1616 (Stratford-upon-Avon)



But wherefore do not you a mightier way
Make war upon this bloody tyrant, Time,
And fortify your self in your decay
With means more blessèd than my barren rhyme?
Now stand you on the top of happy hours,
And many maiden gardens yet unset,
With virtuous wish would bear you living flowers,
Much liker than your painted counterfeit:
So should the lines of life that life repair
Which this, Time's pencil, or my pupil pen
Neither in inward worth nor outward fair
Can make you live your self in eyes of men.
    To give away your self keeps your self still,
    And you must live drawn by your own sweet skill.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on May 01, 2023

34 sec read
194

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCDCEFGFGHH
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 601
Words 114
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". more…

All William Shakespeare poems | William Shakespeare Books

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    "Sonnet 16: But wherefore do not you a mightier way" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/41460/sonnet-16:-but-wherefore-do-not-you-a-mightier-way>.

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