Shakspeare and His Times [Vol. 2 of 2] / Including the Biography of the Poet; criticisms on his genius and writings; a new chronology of his plays; a disquisition on the on the object of his sonnets; and a history of the manners, customs, and amusements, superstitions, poetry, and elegant literature of his age

by Nathan Drake

But in terms the most emphatic and explicit does he point to his object, in the sonnet which we are about to quote entire, distinctly marking the sex, the dignity, the rank, and moral virtue of his friend:—

"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 dignify'd.

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?—'

Because HE needs no praise, wilt thou be dumb?