Sonnet 117
Accuse me thus: that I have scanted all
neglect
testing
love
absence
Accuse me thus: that I have scanted all
Wherein I should your great deserts repay,
Forgot upon your dearest love to call,
Whereto all bonds do tie me day by day;
That I have frequent been with unknown minds
And given to time your own dear-purchased right
That I have hoisted sail to all the winds
Which should transport me farthest from your sight.
Book both my wilfulness and errors down
And on just proof surmise accumulate;
Bring me within the level of your frown,
But shoot not at me in your waken'd hate;
Since my appeal says I did strive to prove
The constancy and virtue of your love.
What It Means
Shakespeare lists his failures: he's neglected the young man, sought out new friends, failed to use the young man's gifts, been absent too much. He admits all of it. But the reason is not indifference — it was a test, to see if the young man's love would endure the trial of neglect. The logic is shaky but the feeling is genuine: the test was real.
Context
Part of the Fair Youth sequence.
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