541AS a decrepit father takes delight,

542To see his actiue childe do deeds of youth,

543So I , made lame by Fortunes dearest spight

544Take all my comfort of thy worth and truth.

545For whether beauty, birth, or wealth, or wit,

546Or any of these all, or all, or more

547Intitled in their parts, do crowned sit,

548I make my loue ingrafted to this store:

549So then I am not lame, poore, nor dispis'd,

550Whilst that this shadow doth such substance giue,

551That I in thy abundance am suffic'd,

552And by a part of all thy glory liue:

553 Looke what is best, that best I wish in thee,

554This wish I haue, then ten times happy me.

556HOw can my Muse want subiect to inuent

557While thou dost breath that poor'st into my verse,

558Thine owne sweet argument, to excellent,

559For euery vulgar paper to rehearse:

560Oh giue thy selfe the thankes if ought in me,

561Worthy perusal stand against thy sight,

562For who's so dumbe that cannot write to thee,

563When thou thy selfe dost giue inuention light?

564Be thou the tenth Muse, ten times more in worth

565Then those old nine which rimers inuocate,

566And he that calls on thee, let him bring forth

567Eternal numbers to out-liue long date.

568 If my slight Muse doe please these curious daies,

569The paine be mine, but thine shal be the praise.

571OH how thy worth with manners may I singe,

572When thou art all the better part of me?

573What can mine owne praise to mine owne selfe bring;

574And what is't but mine owne when I praise thee,

575Euen for this, let vs deuided liue,

576And our deare loue loose name of single one,

577That by this seperation I may giue:

578That due to thee which thou deseru'st alone:

579Oh absence what a torment wouldst thou proue,

580Were it not thy soure leisure gaue sweet leaue,

581To entertaine the time with thoughts of loue,

582Which time and thoughts so sweetly dost deceiue.

583 And that thou teachest how to make one twaine,

584By praising him here who doth hence remaine.