Sonnet 67

Ah, wherefore with infection should he live,

And with his presence grace impiety,

That sin by him advantage should achieve

And lace itself with his society?

Why should false painting imitate his cheek

And steal dead seeing of his living hue?

Why should poor beauty indirectly seek

Roses of shadow, since his rose is true?

Why should he live, now Nature bankrupt is,

Beggar’d of blood to blush through lively veins?

For she hath no exchequer now but his,

And proud of many, lives upon his gains.

O, him she stores to show what wealth she had

In days long since, before these last so bad.

Why should she live in this appalling age

And grace a wretchèd world with beauty?

Why should sin use her to its advantage

And lace itself with her society?

Why should stars and models, the popular

(Fakes of her real beauty),

Make beauty all irregular,

Roseless appearing rosy?

Why should she live now, when all is bankrupt

Of anything that’s true?

Has beauty placed all its truth in her and left

Her with nothing to do?

Or has it stored in her remembrance

Of days before all these bad days since?