The Sonnets (Modern)
Not Peer Reviewed
540
37
¶As a decrepit father takes delight
¶To see his active child do deeds of youth,
¶So I, made lame by Fortune's dearest spite,
¶Take all my comfort of thy worth and truth.
545For whether beauty, birth, or wealth, or wit,
¶Or any of these all, or all, or more,
¶Entitled in thy parts, do crowned sit,
¶I make my love engrafted to this store:
¶So then I am not lame, poor, nor despised,
550Whilst that this shadow doth such substance give
¶That I in thy abundance am sufficed,
¶And by a part of all thy glory live:
¶_Look what is best, that best I wish in thee;
¶_This wish I have, then ten times happy me.
555
38
¶How can my Muse want subject to invent
¶While thou dost breathe, that pour'st into my verse
¶Thine own sweet argument, too excellent
¶For every vulgar paper to rehearse?
560Oh, give thyself the thanks, if aught in me
¶Worthy perusal stand against thy sight;
¶For who's so dumb that cannot write to thee,
¶When thou thyself dost give invention light?
¶Be thou the tenth Muse, ten times more in worth
565Than those old nine which rhymers invocate;
¶And he that calls on thee, let him bring forth
¶Eternal numbers to outlive long date.
¶_If my slight Muse do please these curious days,
¶_The pain be mine, but thine shall be the praise.
570
39
¶Oh, how thy worth with manners may I sing,
¶When thou art all the better part of me?
¶What can mine own praise to mine own self bring,
¶And what is't but mine own, when I praise thee?
575Even for this, let us divided live,
¶And our dear love lose name of single one,
¶That by this separation I may give
¶That due to thee which thou deserv'st alone.
¶O absence, what a torment wouldst thou prove,
580Were it not thy sour leisure gave sweet leave
¶To entertain the time with thoughts of love,
¶Which time and thoughts so sweetly dost deceive.
¶_And that thou teachest how to make one twain,
¶_By praising him here who doth hence remain.