Shakespeare’s Sonnet No. 29

I am not a Shakespearian scholar or even very well-read in Shakespeare, but I have read a couple of his plays and all of his sonnets and recommend this one for anyone—or anyone’s friend—who may be dissatisfied with their state in life.  I would call it “Sweet love remember’d” from the penultimate line of his verse:

When in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,

I all alone beweep my outcast state,

And trouble deaf Heaven with my bootless cries,

And look upon myself, and curse my fate,

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

Featur’d like him, like him with friends possess’d,

Desiring this man’s art, and that man’s scope,

With what I most enjoy contented least;

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

Haply I think on thee, --and then my state

(Like to lark at the break of day arising

From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;

            For thy sweet love remember’d such wealth brings

            That then I scorn to change my state with kings. 

I would hope that each of us could qualify ourselves to be charitable and bring “sweet love remember’d”  to another—to to lift this friend and give him/her hope.  When other men fail, with faith, hope, and charity we can lead such an one as above unto God, “Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world,…which hope cometh of faith, [and] maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast….”  (Book of Mormon, Ether 12:4; see also Holy Bible, Hebrews 11 )