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To Her Portrait

This that you see, the false presentment planned
    With finest art and all the colored shows
    And reasonings of shade, doth but disclose
The poor deceits by earthly senses fanned!
Here where in constant flattery expand
    Excuses for the stains that old age knows,
    Pretexts against the years' advancing snows,
The footprints of old seasons to withstand;

'Tis but vain artifice of scheming minds;
'Tis but a flower fading on the winds;
    'Tis but a useless protest against Fate;
'Tis but stupidity without a thought,
    A lifeless shadow, if we meditate;
'Tis death, tis dust, tis shadow, yea, 'tis nought.


             

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Comments

  • mermaid7
    July 30, 2006
    Edit | Reply
    I know the poet is right, but, ha, I do like my make-up to hide the aging process. I think lines 9-14 are the strong points of this sonnet.