Act I, Scene 17

Sonnet to sundry notes of music

• Shakespeare. On a day, alack the day!
  Love, whose month was ever May,
  Spied a blossom passing fair, 230
  Playing in the wanton air:
  Through the velvet leaves the wind
  All unseen, gan passage find;
  That the lover, sick to death,
  Wish'd himself the heaven's breath, 235
  'Air,' quoth he, 'thy cheeks may blow;
  Air, would I might triumph so!
  But, alas! my hand hath sworn
  Ne'er to pluck thee from thy thorn:
  Vow, alack! for youth unmeet: 240
  Youth, so apt to pluck a sweet.
  Thou for whom Jove would swear
  Juno but an Ethiope were;
  And deny himself for Jove,
  Turning mortal for thy love.' 245