When I have seen by Time's fell hand defacedThe rich-proud cost of outworn buried age,When sometime lofty towers I see down-rased,And brass eternal slave to mortal rage.

When I have seen the hungry ocean gainAdvantage on the kingdom of the shore,And the firm soil win of the watery main,Increasing store with loss, and loss with store.

When I have seen such interchange of State,Or state it self confounded, to decay,Ruin hath taught me thus to ruminateThat Time will come and take my love away.

This thought is as a death which cannot chooseBut weep to have, that which it fears to lose.