7 Dec 2014

Sonnet No 130: My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun

From William Shakespeare Sonnets , 10:00 am on 7 December 2014

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:
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks,
And in some perfumes is there more delight,
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
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.
And yet by heaven I think my love as rare,
As any she belied with false compare.

Get the RNZ app

for easy access to all your favourite programmes

Subscribe to William Shakespeare Sonnets

Podcast (MP3) Oggcast (Vorbis)