1937MY Mistres eyes are nothing like the Sunne,

1938Currall is farre more red, then her lips red,

1939If snow be white, why then her brests are dun:

1940If haires be wiers, black wiers grow on her head:

1941I haue seene Roses damaskt, red and white,

1942But no such Roses see I in her cheekes,

1943And in some perfumes is there more delight,

1944Then in the breath that from my Mistres reekes.

1945I loue to heare her speake, yet well I know,

1946That Musicke hath a farre more pleasing sound:

1947I graunt I neuer saw a goddesse goe,

1948My Mistres when shee walkes treads on the ground.

1949 And yet by heauen I thinke my loue as rare,

1950As any she beli'd with false compare.

1952THou art as tiranous, so as thou art,

1953As those whose beauties proudly make them cruell;

1954For well thou know'st to my deare doting hart

1955Thou art the fairest and most precious Iewell.

1956Yet in good faith some say that thee behold,

1957Thy face hath not the power to make loue grone;

1958To say they erre, I dare not be so bold,

1959Although I sweare it to my selfe alone.

1960And to be sure that is not false I sweare

1961A thousand grones but thinking on thy face,

1962One on anothers necke do witnesse beare

1963Thy blacke is fairest in my iudgements place.

1964 In nothing art thou blacke saue in thy deeds,

1965And thence this slaunder as I thinke proceeds.

1967THine eies I loue, and they as pittying me,

1968Knowing thy heart torment me with disdaine,

1969Haue put on black, and louing mourners bee,

1970Looking with pretty ruth vpon my paine.

1971And truly not the morning Sun of Heauen

1972Better becomes the gray cheeks of th'East,

1973Nor that full Starre that vshers in the Eauen

1974Doth halfe that glory to the sober West

1975As those two morning eyes become thy face:

1976O let it then as well beseeme thy heart

1977To mourne for me since mourning doth thee grace,

1978And sute thy pitty like in euery part.

1979 Then will I sweare beauty her selfe is blacke,

1980And all they foule that thy complexion lacke.