by William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)

The expense of spirit in a waste of shame
 (Sung text for setting by D. Passmore)
 Matches original text
Language: English 
Our translations:  ITA
The expense of spirit in a waste of shame
Is lust in action: and till action, lust
Is perjur'd, murderous, bloody, full of blame,
Savage, 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 bliss in proof, -- and prov'd, a very woe;
Before, a joy propos'd; behind a dream.
    All this the world well knows; yet none knows well
    To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell.

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-08-11
Line count: 14
Word count: 110