Shakespeare's Sonnet 65

Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea,But sad mortality o’ersways their power,How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea,Whose action is no stronger than a flower?O! how shall summer’s honey breath hold out,Against the wrackful siege of battering days,When rocks impregnable are not so stout,Nor gates of steel so strong but Time decays?O fearful meditation! where, alack,Shall Time’s best jewel from Time’s chest lie hid?Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back?Or who his spoil of beauty can forbid?O! none, unless this miracle have might,That in black ink my love may still shine bright.

Since neither brass nor stone nor earth nor the endless sea
Can resist the grim power of death,
How can beauty defend itself against this destruction,
When it has no more strength than a flower?
How can summer’s honey-sweet breath survive
The destructive siege of battering days,
When even unbreakable rocks are not tough enough,
And steel gates are not strong enough to escape Time’s decay?
What a frightening thought! Where can
Time’s finest jewel hide from Time’s treasure chest?
What strong hand can hold back his racing feet?
Who can stop him from plundering beauty?
No one, unless this miracle has the power:
That in black ink my love may still shine bright.