SONNET 19	PARAPHRASE
Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion's paws,	Devouring Time, you make the lion's claws grow blunt,
And make the earth devour her own sweet brood;	And make the earth destroy those things she created;
Pluck the keen teeth from the fierce tiger's jaws,	Cause even the fierce tiger to lose its teeth,
And burn the long-lived phoenix in her blood;	And burn the long-lived phoenix while she is still in the prime of life;
Make glad and sorry seasons as thou fleets,	[Time], make happy and sad seasons as you pass by,
And do whate'er thou wilt, swift-footed Time,	And do whatever you want, swift Time,
To the wide world and all her fading sweets;	To the wide world and all nature's fading beauty;
But I forbid thee one most heinous crime:	But I forbid you to do one thing;
O, carve not with thy hours my love's fair brow,	O, you must not make your mark on my lover's brow,
Nor draw no lines there with thine antique pen;	Nor draw no lines upon his brow with your antique pen;
Him in thy course untainted do allow	Allow him to remain untainted [youthful] as you run your course
For beauty's pattern to succeeding men.	And remain the very ideal of beauty for future generations to admire.
Yet, do thy worst, old Time: despite thy wrong,	Yet, do your worst, old Time: despite your ravages,
My love shall in my verse ever live young.	My lover shall be young forever in my poetry.