TH' expense of Spirit in a waste of shame 
Is lust in action; and till action, lust 
Is perjured, murderous, bloody, full of blame, 
Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust; 
Enjoy'd no sooner but despised straight; 
Past reason hunted; and, no sooner had, 
Past reason hated, as a swallow'd bait 
On purpose laid to make the taker mad: 
Mad in pursuit, and in possession so; 
Had, having, and in quest to have, extreme; 
A bliss in proof, and proved, a very woe; 
Before, a joy proposed; behind, a dream. 
   All this the world well knows; yet none knows well 
   To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell.
Sonnets xix
written byWilliam Shakespeare
© William Shakespeare





