William Shakespeare
1564-1616
Sonnet CXXXI
Thou art as
tyrannous, so as thou art,
As those whose beauties
proudly make them cruel;
For well thou know'st
to my dear doting heart
Thou art the fairest
and most precious jewel.
Yet, in good faith,
some say that thee behold,
Thy face hath not
the power to make love groan;
To say they err I
dare not be so bold,
Although I swear it
to myself alone.
And to be sure that
is not false I swear,
A thousand groans,
but thinking on thy face,
One on another's neck,
do witness bear
Thy black is fairest
in my judgment's place.
In nothing art thou black save in thy deeds,
And thence this slander, as I think, proceeds.
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