- Year Published: 1609
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: England
- Source: Shakespeare, W. The sonnets. In R. G. White (Ed.), The complete works of William Shakespeare. New York: Sully and Kleinteich.
- Flesch–Kincaid Level: 11.0
- Word Count: 126
Shakespeare, W. (1609). Sonnet 11. The Sonnets (Lit2Go Edition). Retrieved August 25, 2016, from
Shakespeare, William. "Sonnet 11." The Sonnets. Lit2Go Edition. 1609. Web. <>. August 25, 2016.
William Shakespeare, "Sonnet 11," The Sonnets, Lit2Go Edition, (1609), accessed August 25, 2016,.
As fast as thou shalt wane so fast thou grow’st,
In one of thine, from that which thou departest,
And that fresh blood which youngly thou bestow’st,
Thou mayst call thine, when thou from youth convertest,
Herein lives wisdom, beauty, and increase,
Without this folly, age, and cold decay,
If all were minded so, the times should cease,
And threescore year would make the world away:
Let those whom nature hath not made for store,
Harsh, featureless, and rude, barrenly perish:
Look whom she best endowed, she gave thee more;
Which bounteous gift thou shouldst in bounty cherish:
She carved thee for her seal, and meant thereby,
Thou shouldst print more, not let that copy die.