ABSENCE, hear thou my protestation     Against thy strength,     Distance and length: Do what thou canst for alteration,     For hearts of truest mettle     Absence doth join and Time doth settle.

Who loves a mistress of such quality,     His mind hath found     Affection's ground Beyond time, place, and all mortality.     To hearts that cannot vary     Absence is present, Time doth tarry.

My senses want their outward motion     Which now within     Reason doth win, Redoubled by her secret notion:     Like rich men that take pleasure     In hiding more than handling treasure.

By Absence this good means I gain,     That I can catch her     Where none can watch her, In some close corner of my brain:     There I embrace and kiss her,     And so enjoy her and none miss her.