Sonnet 27

FAIRE proud! now tell me, why should faire be proud,

Sith all worlds glorie is but drosse uncleane:

And in the shade of death it selfe shall shroud,

How euer now thereof ye litle weene.

That goodly idoll now so gay beseene,

Shall doffe her fleshes borowd fayre attyre:

And be forgot as it had neuer beene,

That many now much worship and admire.

Ne any then shall after it inquire,

Ne any mention shall thereof remaine:

But what this verse, that neuer shall expyre,

Shall to you purchas with her thankles paine.

Faire, be no lenger proud of that shall perish,

But that which shal you make immortall, cherish.