Sonnet 103
Alack, what poverty my Muse brings forth,That having such a scope to show her pride,The argument all bare is of more worthThan when it hath my added praise beside!O, blame me not, if I no more can write!Look in your glass, and there appears a faceThat over-goes my blunt invention quite,Dulling my lines and doing me disgrace.Were it not sinful then, striving to mend,To mar the subject that before was well?For to no other pass my verses tendThan of your graces and your gifts to tell; And more, much more, than in my verse can sit Your own glass shows you when you look in it.
To clothe you with verse I've imbuedwith praise, love, it would but occludemy true acclamationof no decoration:I think you look best in the nude.