1036THat thou are blam'd shall not be thy defect,

1037For slanders marke was euer yet the faire,

1038The ornament of beauty is suspect,

1039A Crow that flies in heauens sweetest ayre.

1040So thou be good, slander doth but approue,

1041Their worth the greater beeing woo'd of time,

1042For Canker vice the sweetest buds doth loue,

1043And thou present'st a pure vnstayined prime.

1044Thou hast past by the ambush of young daies,

1045Either not assayld, or victor beeing charg'd,

1046Yet this thy praise cannot be soe thy praise,

1047To tye vp enuy, euermore inlarged,

1048 If some suspect of ill maskt not thy show,

1049Then thou alone kingdomes of hearts shouldst owe.

1051NOe Longer mourne for me when I am dead,

1052Then you shall heare the surly sullen bell

1053Giue warning to the world that I am fled

1054From this vile world with vildest wormes to dwell:

1055Nay if you read this line, remember not,

1056The hand that writ it, for I loue you so,

1057That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot,

1058If thinking on me then should make you woe.

1059O if(I say)you looke vpon this verse,

1060When I (perhaps) compounded am with clay,

1061Do not so much as my poore name reherse;

1062But let your loue euen with my life decay.

1063 Least the wise world should looke into your mone,

1064And mocke you with me after I am gon.

1066O Least the world should taske you to recite,

1067What merit liu'd in me that you should loue

1068After my death(deare loue)for get me quite,

1069For you in me can nothing worthy proue.

1070Vnlesse you would deuise some vertuous lye,

1071To doe more for me then mine owne desert,

1072And hang more praise vpon deceased I,

1073Then nigard truth would willingly impart:

1074O least your true loue may seeme falce in this,

1075That you for loue speake well of me vntrue,

1076My name be buried where my body is,

1077And liue no more to shame nor me, nor you.

1078 For I am shamd by that which I bring forth,

1079And so should you, to loue things nothing worth.