| |
| FAIR lady, when you see the grace | |
| Of beauty in your looking-glass; | |
| A stately forehead, smooth and high, | |
| And full of princely majesty; | |
| A sparkling eye no gem so fair, | 5 |
| Whose lustre dims the Cyprian star; | |
| A glorious cheek, divinely sweet, | |
| Wherein both roses kindly meet; | |
| A cherry lip that would entice | |
| Even gods to kiss at any price; | 10 |
| You think no beauty is so rare | |
| That with your shadow might compare; | |
| That your reflection is alone | |
| The thing that men most dote upon. | |
| Madam, alas! your glass doth lie, | 15 |
| And you are much deceived; for I | |
| A beauty know of richer grace | |
| (Sweet, be not angry), ’t is your face. | |
| Hence, then, O, learn more mild to be, | |
| And leave to lay your blame on me: | 20 |
| If me your real substance move, | |
| When you so much your shadow love, | |
| Wise nature would not let your eye | |
| Look on her own bright majesty; | |
| Which, had you once but gazed upon, | 25 |
| You could, except yourself, love none: | |
| What then you cannot love, let me, | |
| That face I can, you cannot see. | |
| Now you have what to love, you ’ll say, | |
| What then is left for me, I pray? | 30 |
| My face, sweet heart, if it please thee; | |
| That which you can, I cannot see, | |
| So either love shall gain his due, | |
| Yours, sweet, in me, and mine in you. | |
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