Sonnet 29, by William Shakespeare

Detail of old-spelling text
The first two lines of Sonnet 29 in the 1609 Quarto
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Q1



Q2



Q3



C

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featur’d like him, like him with friends possess’d,
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remember’d such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.




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—William Shakespeare[1] Links to an external site.

Here is the rythym pattern for the 1st four lines (see if you can complete the rest):

/ × × / × / × × / /

When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,

× / × / × / × / × /

I all alone beweep my outcast state,

× / × / / × × / × /

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

× / × / × / × / × /

And look upon myself and curse my fate, (29.1-4)