Shakespeare's Sonnets (1923) Yale/Text/Sonnet 101
For other versions of this work, see Sonnet 101 (Shakespeare).
101
O truant Muse, what shall be thy amends
For thy neglect of truth in beauty dy'd?
Both truth and beauty on my love depends;
So dost thou too, and therein dignified. 4
Make answer, Muse: wilt thou not haply say,
'Truth needs no colour, with his colour fix'd;
Beauty no pencil, beauty's truth to lay;
But best is best, if never intermix'd'? 8
Because he needs no praise, wilt thou be dumb?
Excuse not silence so; for 't lies in thee
To make him much outlive a gilded tomb
And to be prais'd of ages yet to be. 12
Then do thy office, Muse; I teach thee how
To make him seem long hence as he shows now.
4 dignified: art dignified
7 lay: apply, as a color
8 if never intermix'd: if left to itself
13 office: work