1 Let me not to the marriage of true minds Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Let me not prevent the union of true hearts, I won't stand against a genuine bond between souls, don't stop real love
2 Admit impediments, love is not love
Acknowledge obstacles—love is not love, that surrenders to obstacles—that's not real love, if it gives up
it's not love
3 Which alters when it alteration finds,
which shifts when it finds change, that changes when circumstances change, that shifts w/ everything
4 Or bends with the remover to remove.
or bends when someone tries to leave. or goes away when the beloved does. leaves when they leave
5 O no, it is an ever-fixed mark
No, it is a fixed and permanent marker, No, true love is a constant beacon, real love's solid
stays put Wordplay: “ever-fixed mark”
Mark can mean a target, a sign, or an impression; the image is of something immobile and enduring against all tempests.
6 That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
that watches storms and is never disturbed, that watches the worst storms and doesn't move, watches storms
never shakes
7 It is the star to every wand’ring bark,
It is the star guiding every lost ship, It's the north star for every ship that's lost, north star 4 lost ships
8 Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
whose value is unmeasured, even though its position is known. whose real worth can't be calculated, even if we know its location. can't measure its worth
even if we know where
Volta The volta shifts from definitions of love's permanence to defending against time's specific weapon: mortality and bodily decay.
9 Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Love's not Time's fool
Love is not fooled by time, even though rosy lips and cheeks, Love isn't at the mercy of time, even though beautiful skin, love doesn't care bout time
even if u look good
10 Within his bending sickle’s compass come,
fall within time's curving scythe's reach, fall within time's cutting arc, time destroys ur looks
11 Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
Love does not change with time's short hours and weeks, Love doesn't shift through time's passing moments, love doesn't change
no matter how much time
12 But bears it out even to the edge of doom:
but endures it right up to the end of everything. but lasts right up to the very end. lasts til the end
13 If this be error and upon me proved,
If this is wrong and I am proven false, If I'm wrong about this and it's proven, if i'm wrong bout this
14 I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
I never wrote, nor has any man ever loved. then I've never written, and no man has ever loved. then no one ever loved