Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale/Text/Sonnet 117
117
Accuse me thus: that I have scanted all
Wherein I should your great deserts repay,
Forgot upon your dearest love to call,
Whereto all bonds do tie me day by day; 4
That I have frequent been with unknown minds,
And given to time your own dear-purchas'd right;
That I have hoisted sail to all the winds
Which should transport me furthest from your sight. 8
Book both my wilfulness and errors down,
And on just proof surmise accumulate;
Bring me within the level of your frown,
But shoot not at me in your waken'd hate; 12
Since my appeal says I did strive to prove
The constancy and virtue of your love.
1 scanted: grudged
5 frequent: intimate
unknown: unimportant
6 given to time: wasted
10 on . . . accumulate: add suspected to proved offences
11 level: aim