Unperfect Actor (Sonnet 23) Lyrics

Song from Rufus Wainwright's album "Take All My Loves: 9 Shakespeare Sonnets" 2016
Unperfect Actor (Sonnet 23) Lyrics for Rufus Wainwright's new album


"Unperfect Actor", Shakespeare's sonnet 23 sung by Fiora Cutler and Helena Bonham Carter and Martha Wainwright and Rufus Wainwright for Rufus Wainwright's album "Take All My Loves: 9 Shakespeare Sonnets"


As an unperfect actor on the stage,
Who with his fear is put besides his part,
Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,
Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart;
So I, for fear of trust, forget to say
The perfect ceremony of love's rite,
And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,
O'ercharged with burden of mine own love's might.
O let my books be then the eloquence
And dumb presagers of my speaking breast,
Who plead for love and look for recompense
More than that tongue that more hath more expressed.
O learn to read what silent love hath writ!
To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.

Read more: Rufus Wainwright - 9 Shakespeare Sonnets Lyrics
Unperfect Actor sonnet 23 Rufus Wainwright 9 Shakespeare Sonnets Lyrics