Sonnet 62
Devouring Time
- 1 Sin of self-love possesseth all mine eye
- 2 And all my soul, and all my every part;
- 3 And for this sin there is no remedy,
- 4 It is so grounded inward in my heart.
- 5 Methinks no face so gracious is as mine,
- 6 No shape so true, no truth of such account;
- 7 And for myself mine own worth do define,
- 8 As I all other in all worths surmount.
- 9 But when my glass shows me myself indeed
- 10 Beated and chopp'd with tanned antiquity,
- 11 Mine own self-love quite contrary I read;
- 12 Self so self-loving were iniquity.
- 13 'Tis thee,—myself,—that for myself I praise,
- 14 Painting my age with beauty of thy days.