Sonnet XXVI. I once may see, when years may wreck my wrong

Samuel Daniel (1562–1619)

I ONCE may see, when years may wreck my wrong,

And golden hairs may change to silver wire;

And those bright rays (that kindle all this fire)

Shall fail in force, their power not so strong.

Her beauty, now the burden of my song,

Whose glorious blaze the world’s eye doth admire;

Must yield her praise to tyrant TIME’s desire:

Then fades the flower, which fed her pride so long.

When if she grieve to gaze her in her glass,

Which then presents her winter-withered hue:

Go you my verse! go tell her what she was!

For what she was, she best may find in you.

Your fiery heat lets not her glory pass,

But Phœnix-like to make her live anew.