1487WHere art thou Muse that thou forgetst so long,

1488To speake of that which giues thee all thy might?

1489Spendst thou thy furie on some worthlesse songe,

1490Darkning thy powre to lend base subiects light.

1491Returne forgetfull Muse, and straight redeeme,

1492In gentle numbers time so idely spent,

1493Sing to the eare that doth thy laies esteeme,

1494And giues thy pen both skill and argument.

1495Rise resty Muse, my loues sweet face suruay,

1496If time haue any wrincle grauen there,

1497If any, be a Satire to decay,

1498And make times spoiles dispised euery where.

1499 Giue my loue fame faster then time wasts life,

1500So thou preuenst his sieth, and crooked knife.

1502OH truant Muse what shalbe thy amends,

1503For thy neglect of truth in beauty di'd?

1504Both truth and beauty on my loue depends:

1505So dost thou too, and therein dignifi'd:

1506Make answere Muse, wilt thou not haply saie,

1507Truth needs no collour with his collour fixt,

1508Beautie no pensell, beauties truth to lay:

1509But best is best, if neuer intermixt.

1510Because he needs no praise, wilt thou be dumb?

1511Excuse not silence so, for't lies in thee,

1512To make him much out-liue a gilded tombe:

1513And to be praisd of ages yet to be.

1514 Then do thy office Muse, I teach thee how,

1515To make him seeme long hence, as he showes now.

1517MY loue is strengthned though more weake in see-ming

1518I loue not lesse, thogh lesse the show appeare,

1519That loue is marchandiz'd, whose ritch esteeming,

1520The owners tongue doth publish euery where.

1521Our loue was new, and then but in the spring,

1522When I was wont to greet it with my laies,

1523As Philomell in summers front doth singe,

1524And stops his pipe in growth of riper daies:

1525Not that the summer is lesse pleasant now

1526Then when her mournefull himns did hush the night,

1527But that wild musick burthens euery bow,

1528And sweets growne common loose their deare delight.

1529 Therefore like her, I some-time hold my tongue:

1530Because I would not dull you with my songe.