Sonnet 37: As a decrepit father takes delight

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



As a decrepit father takes delight
To see his active child do deeds of youth,
So I, made lame by Fortune's dearest spite,
Take all my comfort of thy worth and truth.
For whether beauty, birth, or wealth, or wit,
Or any of these all, or all, or more,
Entitled in thy parts, do crownèd sit,
I make my love engrafted to this store.
So then I am not lame, poor, nor despised,
Whilst that this shadow doth such substance give
That I in thy abundance am sufficed
And by a part of all thy glory live.
    Look what is best, that best I wish in thee.
    This wish I have; then ten times happy me!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

35 sec read
109

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCDCDEFGHII
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 585
Words 118
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…

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