Sonnet 98

From you have I been absent in the spring,When proud-pied April, dress'd in all his trim,Hath put a spirit of youth in everything,That heavy Saturn laugh'd and leap'd with him. 4Yet nor the lays of birds, nor the sweet smellOf different flowers in odour and in hue,Could make me any summer's story tell,Or from their proud lap pluck them where they grew:Nor did I wonder at the lily's white, 9Nor praise the deep vermilion in the rose;They were but sweet, but figures of delight,Drawn after you, you pattern of all those. 12Yet seem'd it winter still, and, you away,As with your shadow I with these did play.

2 proud-pied: magnificent in many colorstrim: finery4 heavy Saturn: Saturn, god of heaviness or melancholy7 summer's story: pleasant tale9 wonder at: admire