Sonnet 26

SWEET is the rose, but growes upon a brere;

Sweet is the Junipere, but sharpe his bough;

Sweet is the eglantine, but pricketh nere;

Sweet is the firbloome, but his braunches rough.

Sweet is the cypresse, but his rynd is tough,

Sweet is the nut, but bitter is his pill;

Sweet is the broome-flowre, but yet sowre enough;

And sweet is moly, but his root is ill.

So every sweet with soure is tempred still,

That maketh it be coueted the more:

For easie things that may be got at will,

Most sorts of men doe set but litle store.

Why then should I accoumpt of litle paine,

That endlesse pleasure shall unto me gaine.