| SONNET 143 |
PARAPHRASE |
| Lo! as a careful housewife runs to catch |
Just as a thrifty housewife, running to catch |
| One of her feather'd creatures broke away, |
One of her chickens scampering away, |
| Sets down her babe and makes an swift dispatch |
Sets her baby down and hurries |
| In pursuit of the thing she would have stay, |
After the bird she wants back, |
| Whilst her neglected child holds her in chase, |
While her disregarded baby chases behind, |
| Cries to catch her whose busy care is bent |
Crying after her, while she is to preoccupied |
| To follow that which flies before her face, |
To follow that which flies before her, |
| Not prizing her poor infant's discontent; |
Disregarding her poor babe's cries: |
| So runn'st thou after that which flies from thee, |
In the same way do you chase after that which flees from you, |
| Whilst I thy babe chase thee afar behind; |
While I, like the baby, chase after you far behind. |
| But if thou catch thy hope, turn back to me, |
But if you catch your prize, turn back to me |
| And play the mother's part, kiss me, be kind: |
And, like a mother, kiss me and be kind. |
| So will I pray that thou mayst have thy 'Will,' |
So I will pray that you may have your 'Will'; |
| If thou turn back, and my loud crying still. |
If you turn back to me and stop my loud crying for you. |
Introduction to
Shakespeare's Sonnets