Sonnet 127

In the old age black was not counted fair,Or if it were, it bore not beauty's name;But now is black beauty's successive heir,And beauty slander'd with a bastard's shame: 4For since each hand hath put on Nature's power,Fairing the foul with Art's false borrow'd face,Sweet beauty hath no name, no holy bower,But is profan'd, if not lives in disgrace. 8Therefore my mistress' brows are raven black,Her eyes so suited, and they mourners seemAt such who, not born fair, no beauty lack,Sland'ring creation with a false esteem: 12Yet so they mourn, becoming of their woe,That every tongue says beauty should look so.

1–14 Cf. n.1 black . . . fair; cf. n.3 successive: legitimate6 Fairing . . . face: beautifying ugliness by cosmetics10 suited: attired11 no beauty lack: make themselves beautiful by artifice13 so: in such a mannerbecoming of: gracing