PoemSonnet 129: “Th’ expense of spirit…
Author / PoetWilliam Shakespeare
ReferenceSonnet
TagsDespair, Lust, Nature, Sonnet

Th’ expense of spirit in a waste of shame
Is lust in action; and till action, lust
Is perjur’d, murd’rous, bloody, full of blame,
Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust;
Enjoy’d no sooner but despised straight;
Past reason hunted; and, no sooner had,
Past reason hated, as a swallow’d bait,
On purpose laid to make the taker mad:
Mad in pursuit, and in possession so;
Had, having, and in quest to have, extreme;
A bliss in proof, and prov’d, a very woe;
Before, a joy propos’d; behind, a dream.
All this the world well knows; yet none knows well
To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell.

William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
23 Apr 1564 - 23 Apr 1616
Region: Northern Europe
Period: Renaissance
Movement: English Renaissance

more poems by William Shakespeare

Poem NameTopic
Sonnet 94: “They that have power to hurt…Power, Restraint, Sonnet
Sonnet 146: “Poor soul, the centre of my…Morality, Reflection, Self
Sonnet 73: “That time of year…Aging, Reflection, Seasons
The Procreation Sonnets (1 – 17)Beauty, Immortality, Legacy
Sonnet 29: ‘When, in disgrace with fortune…Despair, Fortune, Love
Sonnet 130: ‘My mistress’ eyes are nothing…Beauty, Comparison, Love
The Dark Lady Sonnets (127 – 154)Desire, Infidelity, Mystery
Sonnet 112: “Your love and pity…Betrayal, Love, Loyalty
Sonnet 116: ‘Let me not to the marriage…Constancy, Love, Marriage
Sonnet 110: “Alas, ’tis true I have gone…Betrayal, Guilt, Redemption

all poems by William Shakespeare

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