Synopsis:

In this sonnet, which continues from s. 73, the poet consoles the beloved by telling him that only the poet’s body will die; the spirit of the poet will continue to live in the poetry, which is the beloved’s.

 
But be contented when that fell arrest
Without all bail shall carry me away,
My life hath in this line some interest,
4Which for memorial still with thee shall stay.
When thou reviewest this, thou dost review
The very part was consecrate to thee.
The earth can have but earth, which is his due;
8My spirit is thine, the better part of me.
So then thou hast but lost the dregs of life,
The prey of worms, my body being dead,
The coward conquest of a wretch’s knife,
12Too base of thee to be rememberèd.
 The worth of that is that which it contains,
 And that is this, and this with thee remains.

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