V

Of the envy others bear to his lady for the former perfections

When beauty to the world vouchsafes this bliss, To show the one whose other there is not, The whitest skins red blushing shame doth blot, And in the reddest cheeks pale envy is. The fair and foul come thus alike by this; For when the sun hath our horizon got, Venus herself doth shine no more, God wot, Than the least star that takes the light from his. The poor in beauty thus content remain To see their jealous cause revenged in thee, And their fair foes afflicted with like pain. Lo, the clear proof of thy divinity; For unto God is only due this praise The highest to pluck down, the low to raise!