Analysis of Sonnet 141: In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes

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



In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes,
For they in thee a thousand errors note;
But 'tis my heart that loves what they despise,
Who in despite of view is pleased to dote.
Nor are mine cars with thy tongue's tune delighted,
Nor tender feeling to base touches prone,
Nor taste, nor smell, desire to be invited
To any sensual feast with thee alone;
But my five wits, nor my five senses can
Dissuade one foolish heart from serving thee,
Who leaves unswayed the likeness of a man,
Thy proud heart's slave and vassal wretch to be.
    Only my plague thus far I count my gain,
    That she that makes me sin awards me pain.


Scheme ABABCDCDEFEFGG
Poetic Form Shakespearean sonnet  (93%)
Metre 0111111111 1101010101 1111111101 1001111111 11111111010 1101011101 111101011010 11010011101 1111111101 0111011101 1101010101 1111010111 1011111111 1111110111
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 617
Words 120
Sentences 4
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 34
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 478
Words per stanza (avg) 118
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 14, 2023

36 sec read
131

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…

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