WHEN I have seen by
Times fell hand defacd |
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The rich-proud cost of outworn buried age; |
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When sometime lofty towers I see down-razd, |
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And brass eternal slave to mortal rage; |
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When I have seen the hungry ocean gain |
5 |
Advantage on the kingdom of the shore, |
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And the firm soil win of the watery main, |
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Increasing store with loss, and loss with
store; |
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When I have seen such interchange of state, |
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Or state itself confounded to decay; |
10 |
Ruin hath taught me thus to ruminate |
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That Time will come and take my love away. |
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This thought is as a death, which
cannot choose |
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But weep to have that which it
fears to lose. |
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