poetry texts, poem archive at plagiarist.com

Read more poems by William Shakespeare: William Shakespeare Poems at Poetry X.

O, call not me to justify the wrong
That thy unkindness lays upon my heart
Wound me not with thine eye but with thy tongue;
Use power with power, and slay me not by art.
Tell me thou lov'st elsewhere, but in my sight,
Dear heart forbear to glance thine eye aside;
What need'st thou wound with cunning when thy might
Is more than my o'erpressed defence can bide?
Let me excuse thee: "Ah, my love well knows,
Her pretty looks have been mine enemies,
And therefore from my face she turns my foes,
That they elsewhere might dart their injuries."
    Yet do not so; but since I am near slain,
    Kill me outright with looks and rid my pain.

Added: 2 Sep 2001 | Last Read: 10 Sep 2026 4:05 PM | Viewed: 4746 times

A PoetryNotes™ Analysis of Sonnet 139: O, call not me to justify the wrong by William Shakespeare, is Available!

A PoetryNotes™ eBook is available for this poem for delivery within 24 hours, and usually available within minutes during normal business hours.

ON SALE - only $29.95 19.95!

For more information...