IN the old age black
was not counted fair |
|
Or if it were, it bore not beautys
name; |
|
But now is black beautys successive
heir, |
|
And beauty slanderd with a bastards
shame: |
|
For since each hand hath put on Natures
power, |
5 |
Fairing the foul with Arts false borrowd
face, |
|
Sweet beauty hath no name, no holy bower, |
|
But is profand, if not lives in disgrace. |
|
Therefore my mistress brows are raven
black, |
|
Her eyes so suited, and they mourners seem |
10 |
At such who, not born fair, no beauty lack, |
|
Slandring creation with a false esteem: |
|
Yet so they mourn, becoming of
their woe, |
|
That every tongue says beauty
should look so. |
|