Caelica, Sonnet XLIV

ABsence, the noble truce
Of Cupids warre:
Where though desires want vse,
They honoured are.
Thou art the iust protection,
Of prodigall affection,
Haue thou the praise;
When bankrupt Cupid braueth,
Thy mines his credit saueth,
With sweet delayes.

Of wounds which presence makes
With Beauties shot,
Absence the anguish slakes,
But healeth not:
Absence records the Stories,
Wherein Desire glories,
Although she burne,
She cherisheth the spirits
Where Constancy inherits
And Passions mourne.

Absence, like dainty Clouds,
On glorious-bright,
Natures weake senses shrowds,
From harming light.
Absence maintaines the treasure
Of pleasure vnto pleasure,
Sparing with praise;
Absence doth nurse the fire,
Which starues and feeds desire
With sweet delayes.

Presence to euery part
Of Beauty tyes,
Where Wonder rules the heart
There Pleasure dyes:
Pleasures plagues minde and senses
With modesties defences,
Absence is free:
Thoughts doe in absence venter
On Cupids shadowed center,
They winke and see.

But Thoughts be not so braue,
With absent ioy;
For you with that you haue
Your selfe destroy:
The absence which you glory,
Is that which makes you sory,
And burne in vaine:
For Thought is not the weapon,
Wherewith thoughts-ease men cheapon,
Absence is paine.