William Shakespeare - Playwright - Poem's and Sonnet's | Sonnet 121: 'Tis Better To Be Vile Than Vile Esteemed

An image of William Shakespeare and his inner Family Circle - A Playwright - A Poet, and An Actor

Sonnet 121:

'Tis Better To Be Vile Than Vile Esteemed

'Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed,

When not to be receives reproach of being,

And the just pleasure lost which is so deemed

Not by our feeling but by others' seeing.

For why should others' false adulterate eyes

Give salutation to my sportive blood?

Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,

Which in their wills count bad what I think good?

No, I am that I am, and they that level

At my abuses reckon up their own;

I may be straight, they they themselves be bevel.

By their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown,

Unless this general evil they maintain:

All men are bad, and in their badness reign.

Sonnet 121: Translation to modern English

It's better to be vile than to be thought vile when not being so gets the same response as it would if you were, and you don't even have the pleasure of doing the thing that evokes the criticism from those who think you're vile, even though you don't consider yourself to be. For why should others' hypocritical corruption be allowed to wink knowingly at my lustful tendencies? Or those weaker than I am comment on my weaknesses, presuming to judge what I think is good, bad? No, I am what I am and those who condemn me are only revealing their own corruptness. I may be the straight one and they the ones out of line. You can't judge my actions in terms of their vile thoughts, unless they're prepared to maintain this general dictum: all men are bad and thrive in their badness.

Modern English Translation from: No Sweat Shakespeare

Mail to: ceoorg@charter.net

~ This Web Site is owned and maintained by: ~ D & L Robinson's Graphics Design. ~