Shakespeare's Sonnet 67

Ah! wherefore with infection should he live,And with his presence grace impiety,That sin by him advantage should achieve,And lace itself with his society?Why should false painting imitate his cheek,And steel dead seeming of his living hue?Why should poor beauty indirectly seekRoses of shadow, since his rose is true?Why should he live, now Nature bankrupt is,Beggar’d of blood to blush through lively veins?For she hath no exchequer now but his,And proud of many, lives upon his gains.O! him she stores, to show what wealth she hadIn days long since, before these last so bad.

Why should he live among corruption,
And lend his beauty to wickedness,
Allowing sin to gain an advantage through him
And dress itself up by keeping his company?
Why should artificial makeup imitate his cheeks
And steal a lifeless copy of his living color?
Why should inferior beauty use dishonest means
To seek painted roses, when his rose is real?
Why should he live now that Nature is bankrupt,
With no blood left to make living veins blush?
She has no store of wealth now except his,
And, though proud of her many beauties, lives on his riches.
She preserves him to show what wealth she had
In days long past, before these recent, wretched times.