1396THey that haue powre to hurt, and will doe none,

1397That doe not do the thing, they most do showe,

1398Who mouing others, are themselues as stone,

1399Vnmooued, could, and to temptation slow:

1400They rightly do inherrit heauens graces,

1401And husband natures ritches from expence,

1402They are the Lords and owners of their faces,

1403Others, but stewards of their excellence:

1404The sommers flowre is to the sommer sweet,

1405Though to it selfe, it onely liue and die,

1406But if that flowre with base infection meete,

1407The basest weed out-braues his dignity:

1408 For sweetest things turne sowrest by their deedes,

1409Lillies that fester, smell far worse then weeds.

1411HOw sweet and louely dost thou make the shame,

1412Which like a canker in the fragrant Rose,

1413Doth spot the beautie of thy budding name?

1414Oh in what sweets doest thou thy sinnes inclose!

1415That tongue that tells the story of thy daies,

1416(Making lasciuious comments on thy sport)

1417Cannot dispraise, but in a kinde of praise,

1418Naming thy name, blesses an ill report.

1419Oh what a mansion haue those vices got,

1420Which for their habitation chose out thee,

1421Where beauties vaile doth couer euery blot,

1422And all things turnes to faire, that eies can see!

1423 Take heed(deare heart)of this large priuiledge,

1424The hardest knife ill vs'd doth loose his edge.

1426SOme say thy fault is youth, some wantonesse,

1427Some say thy grace is youth and gentle sport,

1428Both grace and faults are lou'd of more and lesse:

1429Thou makst faults graces, that to thee resort:

1430As on the finger of a throned Queene,