156931"Hard-favored tyrant, ugly, meager, lean,

932Hateful divorce of love," thus chides she death.

933"Grim-grinning ghost, earth's worm, what dost thou mean

934To stifle beauty and to steal his breath,

935 Who, when he lived, his breath and beauty set

936 Gloss on the rose, smell to the violet?

157937"If he be dead, O no, it cannot be,

938Seeing his beauty, thou shouldst strike at it.

939O yes, it may; thou hast no eyes to see,

940But hatefully at random dost thou hit.

941 Thy mark is feeble age, but thy false dart

942 Mistakes that aim and cleaves an infant's heart.

158943"Hadst thou but bid beware, then he had spoke,

944And, hearing him, thy power had lost his power.

945The destinies will curse thee for this stroke.

946They bid thee crop a weed; thou pluck'st a flower.

947 Love's golden arrow at him should have fled,

948 And not death's ebon dart to strike him dead.

159949"Dost thou drink tears, that thou provok'st such weeping?

950What may a heavy groan advantage thee?

951Why hast thou cast into eternal sleeping

952Those eyes that taught all other eyes to see?

953 Now nature cares not for thy mortal vigor

954 Since her best work is ruined with thy rigor."

160955Here overcome, as one full of despair,

956She vailed her eyelids, who like sluices stopped

957The crystal tide that from her two cheeks fair

958In the sweet channel of her bosom dropped;

959 But through the flood-gates breaks the silver rain,

960 And with his strong course opens them again.