THE SONNETS by William Shakespeare (129)

  CXXIX

    The expense of spirit in a waste of shame Is lust¹ in action： and till action, lust Is perjur'd, murderous, bloody², full of blame, Savage³, 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 bliss⁴ in proof,—— and prov'd, a very woe⁵； Before, a joy propos'd； behind a dream. All this the world well knows； yet none knows well To shun⁶ the heaven that leads men to this hell.