Sonnet 101: O truant Muse what shall be thy amends

1O truant Muse what shall be thy amends

2For thy neglect of truth in beauty dy'd?

3Both truth and beauty on my love depends;

4So dost thou too, and therein dignified.

5Make answer Muse: wilt thou not haply say,

6'Truth needs no colour, with his colour fix'd;

7Beauty no pencil, beauty's truth to lay;

8But best is best, if never intermix'd'?

9Because he needs no praise, wilt thou be dumb?

10Excuse not silence so, for't lies in thee

11To make him much outlive a gilded tomb

12And to be prais'd of ages yet to be.

13 Then do thy office, Muse; I teach thee how

14 To make him seem long hence as he shows now.