Sonnet 1 Sonnet 3 Sonnet 12 Sonnet 18 Sonnet 19 Sonnet 20 Sonnet 29 Sonnet 30 Sonnet 33 Sonnet 55 Sonnet 60 Sonnet 65 Sonnet 71 Sonnet 73 Sonnet 94 Sonnet 106 Sonnet 116 Sonnet 126 Sonnet 127 Sonnet 129 Sonnet 130 Sonnet 138 Sonnet 144 Sonnet 146 Sonnet 147

Sonnet 3

Original Text

Look in thy glass and tell the face thou viewest Now is the time that face should form another; Whose fresh repair if now thou not renewest, Thou dost beguile the world, unbless some mother.

Modern English

Look in your mirror and tell me what you see — now is exactly the time that face should create another. If you don't renew yourself while you still can, you cheat the world and deny some woman the gift of motherhood.

Original Text

For where is she so fair whose unear’d womb Disdains the tillage of thy husbandry? Or who is he so fond will be the tomb, Of his self-love to stop posterity?

Modern English

After all, what woman so beautiful would turn away from the chance to carry your child? Or what man so foolish would choose to be the tomb of his own self-love, cutting off his line entirely?

Original Text

Thou art thy mother’s glass and she in thee Calls back the lovely April of her prime; So thou through windows of thine age shalt see, Despite of wrinkles this thy golden time.

Modern English

You are your mother's mirror — in you, she sees the lovely April of her own youth reflected back. And so, through the windows of your older years, you too will see this golden time of yours, even through the wrinkles.

Original Text

But if thou live, remember’d not to be, Die single and thine image dies with thee.

Modern English

But if you live and choose to leave no memory behind, die alone — and your likeness dies with you.

Shakespeare's Sonnets

Sonnet 3

Sonnet 3