Deuouring time, blunt thou the Lyons pawes,
And make the earth deuoure her owne sweet brood;
Plucke the keene teeth from the fierce Tygers yawes,
And burne the long liu’d Phænix in her blood;
And do what ere thou wilt, swift-footed time,
To the wide world and all her fading sweets:
But I forbid thee one most hainous crime,
O carue not with thy howers my loues faire brow,
Nor draw noe lines there with thine antique pen;
Him in thy course vntainted doe allow
For beauties patterne to succeding men.
Yet doe thy worst ould Time, dispight thy wrong,
My loue shall in my verse euer liue young.
Devouring time, blunt thou the lion’s paws,
And make the earth devour her own sweet brood;
Pluck the keen teeth from the fierce tiger’s jaws,
And burn the long-lived Phoenix in her blood;
Make glad and sorry seasons as thou fleet’st,
And do whate’er thou wilt, swift-footed time,
To the wide world and all her fading sweets:
But I forbid thee one most heinous crime,
O carve not with thy hours my love’s fair brow,
Nor draw no lines there with thine antique pen;
Him in thy course untainted do allow
For beauty’s pattern to succeeding men.
Yet do thy worst old Time, despite thy wrong,
My love shall in my verse ever live young.