Young blood doth not obey an old decree.
We cannot cross the cause why we were born;
Therefore, of all hands must we be forsworn.
King. What! did these rent lines show some love of thine? 220
Ber. 'Did they,' quoth you? Who sees the heavenly Rosaline,
That, like a rude and savage man of Inde,
At the first opening of the gorgeous east,
Bows not his vassal head, and, strooken blind, 224
Kisses the base ground with obedient breast?
What peremptory eagle-sighted eye
Dares look upon the heaven of her brow,
That is not blinded by her majesty? 228
King. What zeal, what fury, hath inspir'd thee now?
My love, her mistress, is a gracious moon;
She, an attending star, scarce seen a light.
Ber. My eyes are then no eyes, nor I Berowne. 232
O, but for my love, day would turn to night!
Of all complexions the cull'd sovereignty
Do meet, as at a fair, in her fair cheek;
Where several worthies make one dignity, 236
Where nothing wants that want itself doth seek.
Lend me the flourish of all gentle tongues,—
Fie, painted rhetoric! O she needs it not:
To things of sale a seller's praise belongs; 240
She passes praise; then praise too short doth blot.
A wither'd hermit, five-score winters worn,
Might shake off fifty, looking in her eye:
218 cross . . . born: i.e. hold out against love
219 of all hands: on all hands, in any case
223 the first . . . east: i.e. the rising of the sun
224 strooken: struck
226 peremptory: determined, bold
236 I.e. several beauties make one surpassing beauty
238 flourish: enhancement
239 painted: showy, artificial
