Shakespeare, Sonnet #138, "When my love swears that she is made of truth"

  1     When my love swears she is made of truth,
  2     I do believe her, though I know she lies,
  3     That she might think me some untutored youth,
  4     Unlearnèd in the world's false subtleties.
  5     Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,
  6     Although she knows my days are past the best,
  7     Simply I credit her false-speaking tongue:
  8     On both sides thus is simple truth suppressed.
  9     But wherefore says she not that she is unjust?
 10     And wherefore say not I that I am old?
 11     Oh, love's best habit is in seeming trust,
 12     And age in love loves not to have years told.
 13        Therefore I lie with her and she with me,
 14        And in our faults by lies we flattered be.

2. "lies": 1) tells untruths; 2) has sex.

7. "Simply": like a simpleton.

9. "unjust": unfaithful.

11. "habit": 1) clothing ordinarly worn; 2) habit.

12. "told": 1) counted; 2) talked about.