Excuse for Wishing Her Less Fair

Why thy passion should it move
That I wish'd thy beauty less?
Fools desire what is above
Power of nature to express;
And to wish it had been more.
Had been to outwish her store!

If the flames within thine eye
Did not too great heat inspire,
Men might languish yet not die,
At thy less ungentle fire;
And might on thy weaker light
Gaze, and yet not lose their sight.

Nor wouldst thou less fair appear,
For detraction adds to thee;
If some parts less beauteous were,
Others would much fairer be:
Nor can any part we know
Best be styl'd, when all are so.

Thus this great excess of light,
Which now dazzles our weak eyes,
Would, eclips'd, appear more bright;
And the only way to rise,
Or to be more fair, for thee,
Celia, is less fair to be.