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1 " Those lips that Love's own hand did makeBreathed forth the sound that said, 'I hate'To me that languished for her sake,But, when she saw my woeful state,Straight in her heart did mercy come,Chiding that tongue that ever sweetWas used in giving gentle doom,And taught it thus anew to greet:'I hate,' she altered with an endThat followed it as gentle dayDoth follow night, who like a fiendFrom Heaven to Hell is flown away.'I hate' from hate away she threwAnd saved my life, saying 'not you'. "
― William Shakespeare , The Sonnets and A Lover's Complaint
2 " Love is not love which alters when it alterations finds. Sonnet 116 "
3 " Return of love, more blest may be the view;As call it winter, which being full of care,Makes summer’s welcome thrice more wish’d, more rare.Sonet56 "
4 " Sonnet 138When my love swears that she is made of truth,I do believe her, though I know she lies,That she might think me some untutored youth,Unlearnèd in the world’s false subtleties.Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,Although she knows my days are past the best,Simply I credit her false-speaking tongue:On both sides thus is simple truth suppressed.But wherefore says she not she is unjust?And wherefore say not I that I am old?Oh, love’s best habit is in seeming trust,And age in love loves not to have years told. Therefore I lie with her and she with me, And in our faults by lies we flattered be. "
5 " Tis better to be vile than vile esteemedWhen not to be receives reproach of being,And the just pleasure lost, which is so deemedNot by our feeling but by others' seeing.For why should others’ false adulterate eyesGive salutation to my sportive blood?Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,Which in their wills count bad that I think good?No, I am that I am; and they that levelAt my abuses reckon up their own:I may be straight though they themselves be bevel;By their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown, Unless this general evil they maintain: All men are bad and in their badness reign. "