TESTAMENT

Why do I love thee? Shall my answer run:

Because that thou hast beauty, noble place,

Because of some sweet glamour in thy face,

And eyes that shame the clear light of the sun?

Shall I exclaim upon thy snow-white hands,

Challenge the world to show a gentler mien,

Call down the seraphs to attest, the sheen

Upon thy brow is borrowed from their lands?

Shall I trace out a map of all thy worth,

Parcel thy virtues, say, “For this and this

I learned to love her; here new charms had birth;

I in this territory caught a bliss”?

Shall I make inventory of thy grace,

And crowd the total into common space?