The Sixth Sonnet
O You that heare this voice,
O you that see this face,
Say whether of the choice,
Deserves the better place,
Feare not to judge this bate,
For it is voide of hate.
2 This side doth Beautie take,
For that doth Musick speake,
Fit Orators to make,
The strongest judgements weake.
The barre to plead the right,
Is onely true delight.
3 Thus doth the voice and face,
The gentle Lawiers wage,
Like loving brothers case,
For Fathers heritage,
That each while each contends,
It selfe to other lends.
4 For Beautie beautifies
With heavenly view and grace,
The heavenly harmonie;
And in this faultles face
The perfect beauties bee,
A perfect harmonie.
5 Musick more lustie swels
In speeches nobly placed,
Beautie as farre excels
In actions aptly graced.
A friend each partie drawes,
To countenance his cause.
6 Love more affected seemes
To Beauties lonely light,
And wonder more esteemes
Of Musicks wondrous might;
But both to both so bent,
As both in both are spent.
7 Musicke doth witnes call
The eare his truth to trie:
Beautie brings to the hall
The judgement of the eie:
Both in their objects such,
As no exceptions tuch.
8 The common Sense which might
Be arbitrer of this,
To be forsooth upright,
To both sides partiall is:
He laies on this chiefe praise,
Chiefe praise on that he laies.
9 Then reason Princesse hie,
Whose throne is in the minde;
Which Musicke can in skie,
And hidden Beauties finde:
Say, whether thou wilt crowne
With limitlesse renowne.