Whilst Thus My Pen Strives To Eternise Thee. 
By Drayton, Michael. 


Whilst thus my pen strives to eternize thee,
Age rules my lines with wrinkles in my face,
Where, in the map of all my misery,
Is modelled out the world of my disgrace;
Whilst in despite of tyrannizing times
Medea-like I make thee young again,
Proudly thou scorn'st my world-outwearing rhymes,
And murder'st virtue with thy coy disdain.
And though in youth my youth untimely perish,
To keep thee from oblivion and the grave,
Ensuing ages yet my rhymes shall cherish,
Where I entombed my better part shall save;
And though this earthly body fade and die,
My name shall mount upon eternity.