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O [bad word] Muse what shall be thy amends,
For thy neglect of [bad word] in beauty dyed?
Both [bad word] and beauty on my love depends:
So dost thou too, and therein dignified:
Make answer Muse, wilt thou not haply say, [bad word] needs no colour with his colour fixed,
Beauty no pencil, beauty's [bad word] to lay:
But best is best, if never intermixed'?
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 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.