When I Consider Every Thing That Grows ( William Shakespeare )

When I consider every thing that grows

Holds in perfection but a little moment,

That this huge stage presented nought but shows

Whereon the stars in secret influence comment;

When I perceive that men as plants increase,

Cheered and cheque’d even by the self-same sky,

Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease,

And wear their brave state out of memory;

Then the conceit of this inconstant stay

Sets you most rich in youth before my sight,

Where wasteful Time debate-th with Decay,

To change your day of youth to sullied night;

    

And all in war with Time for love of you,

    

As he takes from you, I en-graft you new.

By

( William Shakespeare )

My Glass Shall Not Persuade Me I Am Old ( Shakespeare )

My glass shall not persuade me I am old,

So long as youth and thou are of one date;

But when in thee time’s furrows I behold,

Then look I death my days should expiate.

For all that beauty that doth cover thee

Is but the seemly raiment of my heart,

Which in thy breast doth live, as thine in me:

How can I then be elder than thou art?

O, therefore, love, be of thyself so wary

As I, not for myself, but for thee will;

Bearing thy heart, which I will keep so chary

As tender nurse her babe from faring ill.

    Presume not on thy heart when mine is slain;

    Thou gav’st me thine, not to give back again. 

By

( William Shakespeare )