Sonnet 101

O truant Muse, what shall be thy amendsFor thy neglect of truth in beauty dy'd?Both truth and beauty on my love depends;So dost thou too, and therein dignified. 4Make 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'? 8Because he needs no praise, wilt thou be dumb?Excuse not silence so; for 't lies in theeTo make him much outlive a gilded tombAnd to be prais'd of ages yet to be. 12Then do thy office, Muse; I teach thee howTo make him seem long hence as he shows now.

4 dignified: art dignified7 lay: apply, as a color8 if never intermix'd: if left to itself13 office: work