LetthosewhoareinfavourwiththeirstarsOfpublichonourandproudtitlesboast，WhilstI，whomfortuneofsuchtriumphbars，Unlook’dforjoyinthatIhonourmost。
Andendsthesonnetbycongratulatinghimselfonthemeanstateofhimhesoadored。
ThenhappyI，thatloveandambelovedWhereImaynotremovenorberemoved。
ThissonnetCyrildeclaredwouldbequiteunintelligibleifwefanciedthatitwasaddressedtoeithertheEarlofPembrokeortheEarlofSouthampton，bothofwhomweremenofthehighestpositioninEnglandandfullyentitledtobecalled\"greatprinces\";andheincorroborationofhisviewreadmeSonnetsCXXIV。andCXXV。，inwhichShakespearetellsusthathisloveisnot\"thechildofstate，\"thatit\"suffersnotinsmilingpomp，\"butis\"buildedfarfromaccident。\"Ilistenedwithagooddealofinterest，forI
don’tthinkthepointhadeverbeenmadebefore;butwhatfollowedwasstillmorecurious，andseemedtomeatthetimetodisposeentirelyofPembroke’sclaim。WeknowfromMeresthattheSonnetshadbeenwrittenbefore1598，andSonnetCIV。informsusthatShakespeare’sfriendshipforMr。W。H。hadbeenalreadyinexistenceforthreeyears。NowLordPembroke，whowasbornin1580，didnotcometoLondontillhewaseighteenyearsofage，thatistosaytill1598，andShakespeare’sacquaintancewithMr。