Sonnet LIV: Yet Read at Last

Portrait of Michael Drayton
Michael Drayton 1563–1631

Yet read at last the story of my woe, The dreary abstracts of my endless cares, With my life's sorrow interlined so, Smok'd with my sighs and blotted with my tears, The sad memorials of my miseries, Penn'd in the grief of mine afflicted ghost, My life's complaint in doleful elegies, With so pure love as Time could never boast. Receive the incense which I offer here, By my strong faith ascending to thy fame, My zeal, my hope, my vows, my praise, my prayer, My soul's oblation to thy sacred name, Which name my Muse to highest heav'ns shall raise By chaste desire, true love, and virtuous praise.

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