121721"But if thou fall, O, then imagine this,

722The earth, in love with thee, thy footing trips,

723And all is but to rob thee of a kiss.

724Rich preys make true men thieves; so do thy lips

725 Make modest Dian cloudy and forlorn,

726 Lest she should steal a kiss and die forsworn.

122727"Now of this dark night I perceive the reason.

728Cynthia, for shame, obscures her silver shine

729Till forging nature be condemned of treason

730For stealing molds from heaven that were divine,

731 Wherein she framed thee, in high heaven's despite,

732 To shame the sun by day and her by night.

123733"And therefore hath she bribed the destinies

734To cross the curious workmanship of nature,

735To mingle beauty with infirmities

736And pure perfection with impure defeature,

737 Making it subject to the tyranny

738 Of mad mischances and much misery;

124739"As burning fevers, agues pale and faint,

740Life-poisoning pestilence, and frenzies wood,

741The marrow-eating sickness whose attaint

742Disorder breeds by heating of the blood;

743 Surfeits, impostumes, grief, and damned despair

744 Swear nature's death for framing thee so fair.

125745"And not the least of all these maladies

746But in one minute's fight brings beauty under.

747Both favor, savor, hue, and qualities,

748Whereat th' impartial gazer late did wonder,

749 Are on the sudden wasted, thawed, and done,

750 As mountain snow melts with the midday sun.