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Home  »  The Oxford Shakespeare  »  Sonnet LI

William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Oxford Shakespeare: Poems. 1914.

“Thus can my love excuse the slow offence”

Sonnet LI

THUS can my love excuse the slow offence
Of my dull bearer when from thee I speed:
From where thou art why should I haste me thence?
Till I return, of posting is no need.
O! what excuse will my poor beast then find,          5
When swift extremity can seem but slow?
Then should I spur, though mounted on the wind,
In winged speed no motion shall I know:
Then can no horse with my desire keep pace;
Therefore desire, of perfect’st love being made,   10
Shall neigh—no dull flesh—in his fiery race;
But love, for love, thus shall excuse my jade,—
  ‘Since from thee going he went wilful-slow,
  Towards thee I ’ll run, and give him leave to go.’