Sonnet 20
A woman's face with Nature's own hand painted
Hast thou, the master-mistress of my passion;
A woman's gentle heart, but not acquainted
With shifting change, as is false women's fashion;
An eye more bright than theirs, less false in rolling,
Gilding the object whereupon it gazeth;
A man in hue, all 'hues' in his controlling,
Much steals men's eyes and women's souls amazeth.
And for a woman wert thou first created;
Till Nature, as she wrought thee, fell a-doting,
And by addition me of thee defeated,
By adding one thing to my purpose nothing.
But since she p***k'd thee out for women's pleasure,
Mine be thy love and thy love's use their treasure.
To those who don't understand:
A woman's face, colored by Nature's own hand
Have you, the master/mistress of my desire;
You have a woman's gentle heart, but you are not prone
To fickle change, as is the way with women;
You have eyes brighter than their eyes, and more sincere,
Lighting up the very object that they look upon;
You are a man in shape and form, and all men are in your control,
You catch the attention of men and amaze women's souls [hearts].
You were originally intended to be a woman;
Until Nature, made a mistake in making you,
And by adding one extra thing [Nature] defeated me,
By adding one thing she has prevented me from fully having you,
But since Nature equipped you for women's pleasure,
Let your body be their treasure, and let me have your love.
