1396They that have power to hurt, and will do none,

1397That do not do the thing they most do show,

1398Who, moving others, are themselves as stone,

1399Unmoved, cold, and to temptation slow:

1400They rightly do inherit heaven's graces,

1401And husband nature's riches from expense;

1402They are the lords and owners of their faces,

1403Others, but stewards of their excellence.

1404The summer's flower is to the summer sweet,

1405Though to itself it only live and die,

1406But if that flower with base infection meet,

1407The basest weed outbraves his dignity:

1408 For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds;

1409 Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.

1411How sweet and lovely dost thou make the shame

1412Which, like a canker in the fragrant rose,

1413Doth spot the beauty of thy budding name!

1414Oh, in what sweets dost thou thy sins enclose!

1415That tongue that tells the story of thy days,

1416Making lascivious comments on thy sport,

1417Cannot dispraise; but in a kind of praise,

1418Naming thy name, blesses an ill report.

1419Oh, what a mansion have those vices got,

1420Which for their habitation chose out thee,

1421Where beauty's veil doth cover every blot,

1422And all things turns to fair that eyes can see!

1423 Take heed, dear heart, of this large privilege;

1424 The hardest knife ill-used doth lose his edge.

1426Some say thy fault is youth, some wantonness;

1427Some say thy grace is youth and gentle sport;

1428Both grace and faults are loved of more and less;

1429Thou mak'st faults graces, that to thee resort:

1430As on the finger of a thronèd queen

1431The basest jewel will be well esteemed,

1432So are those errors that in thee are seen

1433To truths translated, and for true things deemed.

1434How many lambs might the stern wolf betray

1435If like a lamb he could his looks translate!

1436How many gazers mightst thou lead away

1437If thou wouldst use the strength of all thy state!

1438 But do not so; I love thee in such sort,

1439 As, thou being mine, mine is thy good report.