wimpled, hooded, blinkered

wince, kick

Winchester goose, sufferer from syphilis, prostitute

windgall, soft tumour on horse’s leg

windlass, circuit made to intercept game, crafty device

wink, sleep, close one’s eyes

wintered, used in winter

wipe, scar

wistly, intently, closely

wit, mental power, mind, sense, wisdom, imagination, one who has such qualities; know

withal, with this, with it, as well, at the same time, with

without, beyond

wittol, a man aware of and tolerating his wife’s adultery

witty, wise, cunning

woman-tired, henpecked

wonder, admiration; admire, marvel

wondered, performing wonders

wondering, admiration

wood, mad

woodcock, dupe

woodman, hunter

woolward, wearing wool next to the skin

world, to go to the, marry; a woman of the, married woman

worm, serpent, snake

worn, exhausted, past

worship, dignity, honour, authority; to honour

wort, vegetable, unfermented beer

worthy, excellent, valuable, deserved, well-founded, fitting

wot, know

wrack, ruin, destruction

wreak, vengeance, revenge

wrest, tuning-key; take by force

wring, wrest, force, writhe, press painfully on

writ, document, writing, mandate, written command, scripture

writhled, wrinkled

wry, to swerve

Xantippe, scolding wife of the philosopher Socrates

yard, yard measure, penis

yare, ready, quick, moving lightly

yaw, sail out of course, lose direction

yellowness, jealousy

yellows, jaundice

yerk, thrust suddenly

youngly, youthfully, without experience

younker, fine young man, novice, greenhorn

zany, comic performer awkwardly imitating a clown or mountebank

INDEX OF FIRST LINES OF SONNETS

THE Sonnets are to be found on pp.. The numbers refer to their position in the sequence.

A woman’s face with nature’s own hand painted

Accuse me thus : that I have scanted all

Against my love shall be as I am now

Against that time—if ever that time come

Ah, wherefore with infection should he live

Alack, what poverty my muse brings forth

Alas, ’tis true, I have gone here and there

As a decrepit father takes delight

As an unperfect actor on the stage

As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow’st

Be wise as thou art cruel; do not press

Being your slave, what should I do but tend

Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan

Betwixt mine eye and heart a league is took

But be contented when that fell arrest

But do thy worst to steal thyself away

But wherefore do not you a mightier way

Canst thou, Ocruel, say I love thee not

Cupid laid by his brand and fell asleep

Devouring time, blunt thou the lion’s paws

Farewell—thou art too dear for my possessing

For shame deny that thou bear’st love to any

From fairest creatures we desire increase

From you have I been absent in the spring

Full many a glorious morning have I seen

How can I then return in happy plight

How can my muse want subject to invent

How careful was I when I took my way

How heavy do I journey on the way

How like a winter hath my absence been

How oft, when thou, my music, music play’st

How sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame

I grant thou wert not married to my muse

I never saw that youpainting need

If my dear love were but the child of state

If the dull substance of my flesh were thought

If there be nothing new, but that which is

If thou survive my well-contented day

If thy soul check thee that I come so near

In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes

In loving thee thou know’st I am forsworn

In the old age black was not counted fair

Is it for fear to wet a widow’s eye

Is it thy will thy image should keep open

Let me confess that we two must be twain

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Let not my love be called idolatry

Let those who are in favour with their stars

Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore

Like as, to make our appetites more keen

Lo, as a care-full housewife runs to catch

Lo, in the orient when the gracious light

Look in thy glass, and tell the face thou viewest

Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage

Love is my sin, and thy dear virtue hate

Love is too young to know what conscience is I

Mine eye and heart are at a mortal war

Mine eye hath played the painter, and hath steeled

Music to hear, why hear’st thou music sadly?

My glass shall not persuade me I am old

My love is as a fever, longing still

My love is strengthened, though more weak in seeming

My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun

My tongue-tied muse in manners holds her still

No longer mourn for me when I am dead

No more be grieved at that which thou hast done

No, time, thou shalt not boast that I do change!

Not from the stars do I my judgement pluck

Not marble nor the gilded monuments

Not mine own fears nor the prophetic soul

O, call not me to justify the wrong

O, for my sake do you with fortune chide win

O, from what power hast thou this powerful might

O, how I faint when I of you do write

O how much more doth beauty beauteous seem

O, how thy worth with manners maysing

O, lest the world should task you to recite

O me, what eyes hath love put in my head

O never say that I was false of heart

O that you were yourself! But, love, you are

O thou my lovely boy, who in thy power

O truant muse, what shall be thy amends

Or I shall live your epitaph to make

Or whether doth my mind, being crowned with you

Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth

Say that thou didst forsake me for some fault

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?