The expense of spirit in a waste of shame
Is lust in action; and till action, lust
Is perjured, murderous, 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 proved, a very woe;
Before, a joy proposed; behind, a dream.
All this the world well knows; yet none knows well
To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell.
More verses by William Shakespeare
- Sonnet 67: Ah, Wherefore With Infection Should He Live
- Sonnet 92: But Do Thy Worst To Steal Thyself Away
- Sonnet 56: Sweet Love, Renew Thy Force, Be It Not Said
- Sonnet 82: I Grant Thou Wert Not Married To My Muse
- Sonnets X