O, how I faint when I of you do write,
Knowing a better spirit doth use your name,
And in the praise thereof spends all his might,
To make me tongue-tied, speaking of your fame!
But fince your worth, wide as the ocean is,
The humble as the proudeft fail doth bear,
My faucy bark, inferior far to his,
On your broad main doth wilfully appear.
Your shalloweft help will hold me up afloat,
Whilft he upon your foundless deep doth ride;
Or, being wreck'd, I am a worthless boat,
He of tall building and of goodly pride:
Then if he thrive and I be caft away,
The worst was this; my love was my decay.