Sonnet 37

As a decrepit father takes delight

To see his active child do deeds of youth,

So I, made lame by fortune’s dearest spite,

Take all my comfort of thy worth and truth.

For whether beauty, birth, or wealth, or wit,

Or any of these all, or all, or more,

Entitled in thy parts do crownèd sit,

I make my love engrafted to this store.

So then I am not lame, poor, nor despised,

Whilst that this shadow doth such substance give

That I in thy abundance am sufficed

And by a part of all thy glory live.

Look what is best, that best I wish in thee;

This wish I have, then ten times happy me!

As an old parent is gladdened to see

A child for the first time doing first things,

So I, who have little to make me sprightly,

Delight in what your spirit brings.

Whether beauty, class, money,

Genes, or all or any of these

Have or have not made you lucky,

I still want to be yours.

So fertile is your value to me,

With you I cannot be ugly, poor,

Weak, or low in society.

Your anything makes me more.

And I wish only the best for you,

And exult when the wish comes true.