Sonnet 101
O truant Muse, what shall be thy amendsFor thy neglect of truth in beauty dyed?Both truth and beauty on my love depends;So dost thou too, and therein dignified.Make answer, Muse: wilt thou not haply say'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 theeTo make him much outlive a gilded tomb,And to be praised of ages yet to be. Then do thy office, Muse; I teach thee how To make him seem long hence as he shows now.
In truth, you dumb muse, I don't needyour absent assent to proceed.I'll praise my fine youthwhose beauty is truth,and you can just watch and accede.