Sonnet 117
Accuse me thus: that I have scanted all
neglect
testing
love
absence
Accuse me thus: that I have scanted all
Wherein I should your great deserts repay,
Forgot upon your dearest love to call,
Whereto all bonds do tie me day by day;
That I have frequent been with unknown minds
And given to time your own dear-purchased right
That I have hoisted sail to all the winds
Which should transport me farthest from your sight.
Book both my wilfulness and errors down
And on just proof surmise accumulate;
Bring me within the level of your frown,
But shoot not at me in your waken'd hate;
Since my appeal says I did strive to prove
The constancy and virtue of your love.
What It Means
Shakespeare lists his failures: he's neglected the young man, sought out new friends, failed to use the young man's gifts, been absent too much. He admits all of it. But the reason is not indifference, it was a test, to see if the young man's love would endure the trial of neglect. The logic is shaky but the feeling is genuine: the test was real.
Context
Part of the Fair Youth sequence.
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