THE SONNETS by William Shakespeare (79)

LXXIX

    Whilst I alone did call upon thy aid, My verse alone had all thy gentle grace； But now my gracious numbers are decay'd, And my sick Muse¹ doth give an other place. I grant, sweet love, thy lovely argument Deserves the travail² of a worthier³ pen； Yet what of thee thy poet doth invent He robs thee of, and pays it thee again. He lends thee virtue⁴, and he stole that word From thy behaviour； beauty doth he give, And found it in thy cheek： he can afford No praise to thee, but what in thee doth live. Then thank him not for that which he doth say, Since what he owes thee, thou thyself dost pay.