Monologues, Sonnets and Other Short Poems by Wm. Shakespeare, audio by Walter Rufus Eagles

A tribute to the world's greatest poet / playwright. The Shakespeare page is also dedicated as a memorial to my friend, the late Will Geer, tireless supporter of Will Shakespeare all of his life. Read THE WILL GEER I KNEW, by Walter Rufus Eagles [PDF] and WILL GEER: STAGE PRESENCE, by Fritz Lyon [PDF]

.Eighty Two Sonnets:

Accuse me thus: that I have scanted all. . .[0:46]
Alack, what poverty my Muse brings forth. . . [0:58]
Alas, tis true, I have gone here and there . . . [0:52]
As a decrepit father takes delight . . . [0:57]
As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou growest. . . [0:57]
Being your slave, what should I do. . ? [0:46]
Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan. . . [1:04]
But do thy worst to steal thyself away. . . [0:48]
But wherefore do not you a mightier way. . . [0.55]
Cupid laid by his brand. . . [1:05]
Devouring time, blunt thou the lion's paws. . . [0:52]
For shame deny that thou bear'st love to any. . . [0:53]
From fairest creatures we desire increase. . . [0:51]
Full many a glorious morning have I seen. . . [0:50]
How can I then return in happy plight. . . [0:57]
How can my Muse want subject to invent. . . [0:50]
How like a winter hath my absence been. . . [0:51]
How oft, when thou, my music, music play'st . . . [0:47]
How sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame. . .[0:52]
If my dear love were but the child of state. . . [0:58]
If thy soul cheque thee that I come so near. . . [1:03]
In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes. . . [1:01]
In loving thee thou know'st I am forsworn. . . [1:04]
In the old age black was not counted fair. . . [0:58]
Is it for fear to wet a widow's eye. . . [0:50]
Is it thy will thy image should keep open. . . [0:50]
Let me not to the marriage of true minds. . . [0:45]
Let not my love be call'd idolatry. . . [0:53]
Like as, to make our appetites more keen. . . [1:00]
Lo! as a careful housewife. . .[1:08]
Lo! in the orient when the gracious light. . . [0:52]
Look in thy glass and tell the face thou viewest. . . [0:51]
Love is my sin and thy dear virtue hate. . . [0:54]
Music to hear, why hear'st thou music sadly. . . [0:58]
My glass shall not persuade me I am old. . . [0:52]
No more be grieved at that which thou hast done. . . [1:03]
No, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do change. . . [1:02]
Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck. . . [0:52]
Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck. . . [0:47][newer recording]
Not marble, nor the gilded monuments of princes. . . [0:49]
Not mine own fears, nor the prophetic soul . . . [0:54]
O, for my sake do you with Fortune chide. . . [0:50]
O never say that I was false of heart. . . [0:48]
O truant Muse, what shall be thy amends. . .[0:56]
O, that you were yourself! . . . [0:47]
O thou, my lovely boy, who in thy power. . .[0:48]
Poor soul, the centre of my sinful earth. . . [0:50]
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?. . . [0:49]
Since brass nor stone nor earth nor boundless sea. . . [0:49]
Since I left you, mine eye is in my mind. . .[0:53]
So is it not with me as with that Muse. . . [0:52]
So shall I live, supposing thou art true. . .[0:52]
Some glory in their birth, some in their skill. . .[0:53]
The expense of spirit in a waste of shame. . . [0:51]
That god forbid that made me first your slave. . . [0:46]
That you were once unkind befriends me now. . . [1:05]
The little Love-god lying once asleep. . . [1:03]
Then hate me when thou wilt; if ever, now. . .[1:00]
Then, let not winter's ragged hand deface. . . [0:47]
They that have power to hurt and will do none. . .[0:55]
Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me. . . [0:59]
Those hours, that with gentle work did frame. . . [0:51]
Those lines that I before have writ do lie. . . [1:00]
Those lips that Love's own hand did make. . . [0:52]
Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou art. . . [0:59]
Thou blind fool, Love, what dost thou to mine eyes. . . [1:02]
Tired with all these, for restful death I cry. . . [0:52]
'Tis better to be vile than vile esteem'd. . . [0:58]
Thy bosom is endeared with all hearts. . . [0:54]
To me, fair friend, you never can be old. . . [0:50]
Two loves I have of comfort and despair. . . [1:00]
Unthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spend. . . [0:51]
Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed . . . [0:53]
What potions have I drunk of Siren tears. . . [0:59]
When forty winters shall besiege thy brow . . . [0:50]
When I consider every thing that grows. . .[0:54]
When I do count the clock that tells the time. . . [1:03]
When I do count the clock that tells the time. . .[1:04][newer recording]
When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes . . . [0:47]
When in the chronicle of wasted time . . . [0:45]
When to the sessions of sweet silent thought . . . [0:48]
Who will believe my verse in time to come. . . [1:03]
Why didst thou promise such a beauteous day. . . [0:59]
Your love and pity doth th' impression fill. . . [1:00]

Most of the above sonnets can be both read and heard at EducETH, Zurich, and many other sonnets as well by other readers for this worldwide college level database.

Ten Short Poems:

A Sea Dirge: Full fathom five thy father lies [0:25]
Carpe Diem [0:34](O mistress mine, where are you roaming?)
Come Away, Come Away Death [0:49]
Fairy Land [0:38]
The Chimney Sweeper [0:53]
The Chimney Sweeper [0:53][repeat:antiphonal stanzas]
The Phoenix and the Turtle [2:28]
Where the Bee Sucks [0:25]
Where Is Fancy Bred? [0:27]
Who is Sylvia? [0:43]
You Spotted Snakes with Double Tongue [1:03]

Eight Monologues:

Hamlet's Soliloquy, from Hamlet, (III,i) (To be or not to be. . .)[2:00 ]
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, from Macbeth (V, verses 19-28) [0:53]
All the world's a stage, from As You Like It [1:32] ["The Seven Ages of Man"]
Our revels now are ended, from The Tempest (IV, i) [0:40]
All the infections that the sun sucks up: Caliban's monologue from The Tempest (II,ii) [0:53]
Clarence's Monologue (I,i) from Richard III [2:54] (Oh! - I have passed a miserable night. . .)
Oh, that this too, too sullied flesh -- second soliloquy from Hamlet [2:10]
Richard's Monologue from Richard III (Now is the winter of our discontent. . .) [2:26]

Return to Daily Audio Poem Page

Return to Weekly Audio Poetry Page

Return to Poets Listing