A Beautiful Mistress

IF when the sun at noon displays                          His brighter rays,               Thou but appear,

He then, all pale with shame and fear,                          Quencheth his light,

Hides his dark brow, flies from thy sight,              And grows more dim,        Compared to thee, than stars to him.

If thou but show thy face again,

When darkness doth at midnight reign,

The darkness flies, and light is

Round about the silent world :

So as alike thou driv'st

Both light and darkness, night and day.