Shakespeare’s Sonnet #87 “Farewell, thou art too dear for my possessing”
Thus have I had thee as a dream doth flatter,
In sleep a king, but waking no such matter.
Reading of Sonnet 87
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The images in the YouTube video are from an original 1609 edition of Shake-speares Sonnets held by the British Library. It is one of only thirteen copies in existence. Images courtesy of the Octavo Corporation.
Modernized Spelling and Punctuation
Farewell, thou art too dear for my possessing,
And like enough thou know’st thy estimate.
The charter of thy worth gives thee releasing;
My bonds in thee are all determinate.
For how do I hold thee but by thy granting,
And for that riches where is my deserving?
The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting,
And so my patent back again is swerving.
Thy self thou gavest, thy own worth then not knowing,
Or me, to whom thou gavest it, else mistaking;
So thy great gift, upon misprision growing,
Comes home again, on better judgment making.
Thus have I had thee as a dream doth flatter,
In sleep a king, but waking no such matter.
Simplified Modern English Translation
Farewell, you are too precious for me to possess,
and I am sure that you are aware of your own great worth.
That which confers on you such a high rank, also gives you the power to release me.
All my exclusive ties to you have hereby ended.
For how can I retain you, except by your own wish,
and how am I deserving of such a great privilege?
The justification for such a great gift is lacking in me,
and so my special position is returned to you.
You initially gave yourself to me, not knowing you own worth,
or else you thought at the time I was worth more than I really am;
so your great gift, being grounded in error,
may be revoked, after making a better judgment.
Thus I have had you as a dream doth flatter,
in sleep a king, but waking no such matter.
Text from Original 1609 Quarto
Transcription courtesy of University of Virginia Library:
Farewell thou art too deare for my possessing,
And like enough thou knowst thy estimate,
The Charter of thy worth giues thee releasing:
My bonds in thee are all determinate.
For how do I hold thee but by thy granting,
And for that ritches where is my deseruing?
The cause of this faire guift in me is wanting,
And so my pattent back againe is sweruing.
*Thy selfe thou gau’st, thy owne worth then not knowing,
Or mee to whom thou gau’st it, else mistaking,
So thy great guift vpon misprision growing,
Comes home againe, on better iudgement making.
Thus haue I had thee as a dreame doth flatter,
In sleepe a King, but waking no such matter.