Previous
Sonnet 136
Shakespeare's Sonnets Translation Sonnet 137
Thou blind fool love, what dost thou to mine eyes, That they behold, and see not what they see? They know what beauty is, see where it lies, Yet what the best is take the worst to be. If eyes corrupt by over-partial looks Be anchored in the bay where all men ride, Why of eyes' falsehood hast thou forgèd hooks, Whereto the judgment of my heart is tied? Why should my heart think that a several plot Which my heart knows the wide world’s common place? Or mine eyes, seeing this, say this is not, To put fair truth upon so foul a face? In things right true my heart and eyes have erred, And to this false plague are they now transferred.
Love, you blind fool, what have you done to my eyes,
That they look, but do not see what they see?
They know what beauty is, and can see where it lies,
But they take the ugliest woman to be the most beautiful.
If eyes, corrupted by prejudiced glances,
Remain on the person who has slept with everyone,
Why have you made hooks out of those false visions
To which the judgement of my heart is tied?
Why should my heart think it is a private possession
When my heart knows it is publicly available to everyone?
And why should my eyes, seeing this, say that it isn't true
In order to make beautiful truth cover such a foul face?
My heart and eyes have been unable to see the truth,
And they have been infected by this plague of falseness.
