Shakespeare Sonnet 67 Analysis, Ah, wherefore with infection should he live

This is a short summary of Shakespeare sonnet 67. Continue reading for complete analysis and meaning in the modern text. For the complete list of 154 sonnets, check the collection of Shakespeare Sonnets with analysis. It is highly recommended to buy “The Monument” by Hank Whittemore, which is the best book on Shakespeare Sonnets.

Shakespeare Sonnet 67 (Original Text)

Ah, wherefore with infection should he live,
And with his presence grace impiety,
That sin by him advantage should achieve
And lace itself with his society?
Why should false painting imitate his cheek,
And steal dead seeing of his living hue?
Why should poor beauty indirectly seek
Roses of shadow, since his rose is true?
Why should he live, now nature bankrupt is,
Beggared of blood to blush through lively veins?
For she hath no exchequer now but his,
And, proud of many, lives upon his gains.
O him she stores, to show what wealth she had
In days long since, before these last so bad.
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Shakespeare Sonnet 67 Modern Text (Translation)

Shakespeare sonnet 67 Modern text

Shakespeare Sonnet 67 Analysis

The poet questions the fact why should the fair youth his friend have to live among corruption “which he compares to infection,” wherefore with infection should he live, and gracing the sinners with his presence “with his presence grace impiety,” to allow them to take advantage by being associated with him “That sin by him advantage should achieve”

Why should false painters and false artists “Why should false painting” attempt to imitate his face “imitate his cheek,” and make dead copies of his lively beauty “steal dead seeing of his living hue.”Why should those who aren’t good looking at him “Why should poor beauty” try to attempt a rose “indirectly seek” by falsehood because the youth is a true rose “Roses of shadow, since his rose is true?”

Why should he live “Why should he live” among nature that has deteriorated “now nature bankrupt is” to the point of being unable to infuse vigor and beauty to anyone, “Beggared of blood to blush through lively veins” because nature has no stock of beauty except him? “For she hath no exchequer now but his, “And she has many children that need looking after and hence depends on him for her needs “And, proud of many, lives upon his gains”

He says nature preserves him to show how much beauty she had long ago “O him she stores, to show what wealth she had before” such bad days came upon her “In days long since, before these last so bad”