William Shakespeare
1564-1616

Sonnet CIV

To me, fair friend, you never can be old,
For as you were when first your eye I ey'd,
Such seems your beauty still. Three winters cold,
Have from the forests shook three summers' pride,
Three beauteous springs to yellow autumn turn'd,
In process of the seasons have I seen,
Three April perfumes in three hot Junes burn'd,
Since first I saw you fresh, which yet are green.
Ah! yet doth beauty like a dial-hand,
Steal from his figure, and no pace perceiv'd;
So your sweet hue, which methinks still doth stand,
Hath motion, and mine eye may be deceiv'd:
    For fear of which, hear this thou age unbred:
    Ere you were born was beauty's summer dead.
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This border is a reproduction of

Frans Hals'

(1580-1666) 
The Laughing Cavalier
1624, oil on canvas 
Carol Gerten's Fine Art http://metalab.unc.edu/cgfa/

Click here for the directory of my backgrounds based on art.