SONNET 99

The forward violet thus did I chide:
Sweet thief, whence didst thou steal thy sweet that smells,
If not from my love's breath? The purple pride
Which on thy soft cheek for complexion dwells
In my love's veins thou hast too grossly dyed.
The lily I condemned for thy hand,
And buds of marjoram had stol'n thy hair:
The roses fearfully on thorns did stand,
One blushing shame, another white despair;
A third, nor red nor white, had stol'n of both
And to his robbery had annex'd thy breath;
But, for his theft, in pride of all his growth
A vengeful canker eat him up to death.
   More flowers I noted, yet I none could see
   But sweet or colour it had stol'n from thee.

Paraphrase and Analysis of Sonnet 99

_________

Related Articles

 Introduction to Shakespeare's Sonnets
 How to Analyze a Shakespearean Sonnet
 Shakespearean Sonnet Basics
 Outline of the Themes in Shakespeare's Sonnets
 Shakespeare's Sonnets: Q & A
 Are Shakespeare's Sonnets Autobiographical?
 Shakespeare's Greatest Love Poem

 The Order of the Sonnets
 The Date of the Sonnets
 Who was Mr. W. H.?
 Are all the Sonnets addressed to two Persons?
 Who was The Rival Poet?

 Shakespeare Glossary
 Shakespeare Quotations (by Play and Theme)

 Why Shakespeare is so Important
 Shakespeare's Language
 Shakespeare's Boss
 Shakespeare's Impact on Other Writers
 Why Study Shakespeare?