My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun; |
My mistress’s eyes are nothing like the sun; |
Coral is far more red than her lips’ red; |
Coral is far more red than her lips; |
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; |
If snow is white, then her breasts are a brownish gray; |
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. |
If hairs are like wires, hers are black and not golden. |
I have seen roses damask’d, red and white, |
I have seen damask roses, red and white [streaked], |
But no such roses see I in her cheeks; |
But I do not see such colors in her cheeks; |
And in some perfumes is there more delight |
And some perfumes give more delight |
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. |
Than the horrid breath of my mistress. |
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know |
I love to hear her speak, but I know |
That music hath a far more pleasing sound; |
That music has a more pleasing sound. |
I grant I never saw a goddess go; |
I’ve never seen a goddess walk; |
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground: |
But I know that my mistress walks only on the ground. |
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare |
And yet I think my love as rare |
As any she belied with false compare. |
As any woman who has been misrepresented by ridiculous comparisons. |