Shakespeare's Sonnet 119

What potions have I drunk of Siren tears,Distill’d from limbecks foul as hell within,Applying fears to hopes, and hopes to fears,Still losing when I saw myself to win!What wretched errors hath my heart committed,Whilst it hath thought itself so blessed never!How have mine eyes out of their spheres been fitted,In the distraction of this madding fever!O benefit of ill! now I find trueThat better is, by evil still made better;And ruin’d love, when it is built anew,Grows fairer than at first, more strong, far greater.So I return rebuk’d to my content,And gain by ill thrice more than I have spent.

What potions I have drunk made from the tears of seductive Sirens, distilled in vessels as foul inside as hell! I set fears against hopes and hopes against fears, always losing when I thought I was winning. What miserable mistakes my heart has made while thinking itself happier than ever! How my eyes have been forced from their sockets in the frenzy of this maddening fever! What good has come from evil! Now I find it true that what is good becomes even better through evil, and ruined love, when rebuilt, grows more beautiful than before, stronger and far greater. So, chastened, I return to my happiness, and through wrongdoing gain three times more than I have lost.