William Shakespeare
1564-1616
Sonnet CXXVII
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 shame:
For since each hand
hath put on Nature's power,
Fairing the foul with
Art's false borrowed face,
Sweet beauty hath
no name, no holy bower,
But is profan'd, if
not lives in disgrace.
Therefore my mistress'
eyes are raven black,
Her eyes so suited,
and they mourners seem
At such who, not born
fair, no beauty lack,
Sland'ring creation
with a false esteem:
Yet so they mourn becoming of their woe,
That every tongue says beauty should look so.
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