- O truant Muse what shall be thy amends
- For thy neglect of truth in beauty dy’d?
- 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 thee
- To make him much outlive a gilded tomb
- And to be prais’d of ages yet to be.
- Then do thy office, Muse; I teach thee how
- To make him seem long hence as he shows now.