So am I as the rich, whose blessed key,
Can bring him to his sweet up-locked treasure,
The which he will not every hour survey,
For blunting the fine point of seldom pleasure. 
Therefore are feasts so solemn and so rare,
Since, seldom coming in that long year set,
Like stones of worth they thinly placed are,
Or captain jewels in the carcanet. 
So is the time that keeps you as my chest,
Or as the wardrobe which the robe doth hide,
To make some special instant special-blest,
By new unfolding his imprison’d pride. 
  Blessed are you whose worthiness gives scope,
  Being had, to triumph; being lacked, to hope.

LIII

What is your substance, whereof are you made,
That millions of strange shadows on you tend? 
Since every one, hath every one, one shade,
And you but one, can every shadow lend. 
Describe Adonis, and the counterfeit
Is poorly imitated after you;
On Helen’s cheek all art of beauty set,
And you in Grecian tires are painted new: 
Speak of the spring, and foison of the year,
The one doth shadow of your beauty show,
The other as your bounty doth appear;
And you in every blessed shape we know. 
  In all external grace you have some part,
  But you like none, none you, for constant heart.

LIV

O! how much more doth beauty beauteous seem
By that sweet ornament which truth doth give. 
The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem
For that sweet odour, which doth in it live. 
The canker blooms have full as deep a dye
As the perfumed tincture of the roses. 
Hang on such thorns, and play as wantonly
When summer’s breath their masked buds discloses: 
But, for their virtue only is their show,
They live unwoo’d, and unrespected fade;
Die to themselves.  Sweet roses do not so;
Of their sweet deaths, are sweetest odours made: 
  And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth,
  When that shall vade, by verse distills your truth.

LV

Not marble, nor the gilded monuments
Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;
But you shall shine more bright in these contents
Than unswept stone, besmear’d with sluttish time. 
When wasteful war shall statues overturn,
And broils root out the work of masonry,
Nor Mars his sword, nor war’s quick fire shall burn
The living record of your memory. 
’Gainst death, and all-oblivious enmity
Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room
Even in the eyes of all posterity
That wear this world out to the ending doom. 
  So, till the judgment that yourself arise,
  You live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes.

LVI