Sonnet XCVI

Some say thy fault is youth, some wantonness;	1
Some say thy grace is youth and gentle sport;	2
Both grace and faults are loved of more and less;	3
Thou makest faults graces that to thee resort.	4
As on the finger of a throned queen	5
The basest jewel will be well esteem'd,	6
So are those errors that in thee are seen	7
To truths translated and for true things deem'd.	8
How many lambs might the stem wolf betray,	9
If like a lamb he could his looks translate!	10
How many gazers mightst thou lead away,	11
If thou wouldst use the strength of all thy state!	12
But do not so; I love thee in such sort	13
As, thou being mine, mine is thy good report.	14