My love is strengthen'd
By: William Shakespeare

My love is strengthen'd, though more weak in seeming
I love not less, though less the show appear
That love is merchandized whose rich esteeming
The owner's tongue doth publish every where

Our love was new and then but in the spring
When I was wont to greet it with my lays
As Philomel in summer's front doth sing
And stops her pipe in growth of riper days

Not that the summer is less pleasant now
Than when her mournful hymns did hush the night
But that wild music burthens every bough
And sweets grown common lose their dear delight

Therefore like her I sometime hold my tongue
Because I would not dull you with my song

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