Sonnet 117

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.

Say that I have not paid you enough attention,

Reserved from you what you deserve,

Not called, not even thought to mention

My debt, each day, to your love.

Say that I’ve been hard to reach and hard to find,

Arbitrary with my time,

Opaque with my mind,

Absent with your dream.

Charge me with carelessness, charge me with cruelty

For all the ways it looks.

Gaze at me, hot and angry,

But don’t resort to attacks.

In my defense, I was only trying to prove

The passion and conviction of your love.