Sonnet 80

1 O how I faint when I of you do write,
2 Knowing a better spirit doth use your name,
3 And in the praise thereof spends all his might,
4 To make me tongue-tied speaking of your fame.
5 But since your worth, wide as the ocean is,
6 The humble as the proudest sail doth bear,
7 My saucy bark (inferior far to his)
8 On your broad main doth wilfully appear.
9 Your shallowest help will hold me up afloat,
10 Whilst he upon your soundless deep doth ride,
11 Or (being wrecked) I am a worthless boat,
12 He of tall building, and of goodly pride.
13 Then if he thrive and I be cast away,
14 The worst was this: my love was my decay.