Sonnet 106: When in the chronicle of wasted time

1When in the chronicle of wasted time

2I see descriptions of the fairest wights,

3And beauty making beautiful old rime,

4In praise of ladies dead and lovely knights,

5Then, in the blazon of sweet beauty's best,

6Of hand, of foot, of lip, of eye, of brow,

7I see their antique pen would have express'd

8Even such a beauty as you master now.

9So all their praises are but prophecies

10Of this our time, all you prefiguring;

11And for they looked but with divining eyes,

12They had not skill enough your worth to sing:

13 For we, which now behold these present days,

14 Have eyes to wonder, but lack tongues to praise.