Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | II. Love’s Nature | | “O mistress mine” | | William Shakespeare (1564–1616) |
| | From “Twelfth Night,” Act II. Sc. 3. |
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O MISTRESS mine, where are you roaming? | |
| O, stay and hear! your true-love ’s coming | |
| That can sing both high and low; | |
| Trip no further, pretty sweeting, | |
| Journeys end in lovers’ meeting,— | 5 |
| Every wise man’s son doth know. | |
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| What is love? ’t is not hereafter; | |
| Present mirth hath present laughter; | |
| What ’s to come is still unsure: | |
| In delay there lies no plenty,— | 10 |
| Then come kiss me, Sweet-and-twenty, | |
| Youth ’s a stuff will not endure. | | | |
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