Sonnet 23: As an unperfect actor on the stage by William Shakespeare

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Sonnet 23: As an unperfect actor on the stage

As an unperfect actor on the stage
Who with his fear is put beside his part,
Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,
Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart,
So I, for fear of trust, forget to say
The perfect ceremony of love's rite,
And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,
O'ercharged with burden of mine own love's might.
O, let my books be then the eloquence
And dumb presagers of my speaking breast,
Who plead for love, and look for recompense
More than that tongue that more hath more expressed.
O, learn to read what silent love hath writ,
To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.

William Shakespeare

Read poems about / on: strength, trust, fear, love, heart, sonnet

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Richard Lighburn (8/19/2006 12:14:00 PM)
I draw many parallels between this sonnet and 'Pyramis and Thisbe, ' the play within a play in 'Midsummer Night's Dream: '
There are numerous 'imperfect actors' in the 'rude mechanicals; ' in P&T there is a 'fierce thing replete with too much rage' in the stage lion who simply growls; and so forth.