The Sonnets of William Shakespeare
Sonnet 130
My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red:
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun*;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.4 I have seen roses damask'd*, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes are their more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.8 I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound:
I grant I never saw a goddess go,
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:12 And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied* with false compare.
VOCABULARY
dun-- dull, grayish-brown color
damask'd-- (damasked) ornamented or woven with an elaborate pattern
belied-- misrepresented, was lied about
QUESTIONS
- In this poem is the narrator being truthful about the woman he loves, or does he lie by giving her false compliments?
- Name three things that Shakespeare insists his lover is lacking?
- In the end is the poet proud or ashamed of his lover?
- YOUR OPINION: Is the purpose of art, in your view, to be pleasing or to be truthful? Give examples of works of art (literature, films, paintings, etc.) to support your answer.
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