| O TRUANT Muse, what shall be thy amends | |
| For thy neglect of truth in beauty dy’d? | |
| Both truth and beauty on my love depends; | |
| So dost thou too, and therein dignified. | |
| Make answer, Muse: wilt thou not haply say, | 5 |
| ‘Truth needs no colour, with his colour fix’d; | |
| Beauty no pencil, beauty’s truth to lay; | |
| But best is best, if never intermix’d?’ | |
| Because he needs no praise, wilt thou be dumb? | |
| Excuse not silence so; for ’t lies in thee | 10 |
| To make him much outlive a gilded tomb | |
| And to be prais’d of ages yet to be. | |
| Then do thy office, Muse; I teach thee how | |
| To make him seem long hence as he shows now. |