Rhymes: A group

1. O truant Muse, what shall be thy amends
2. Both truth and beauty on my love depends;

B group

1. For thy neglect of truth in beauty dyed?
2. So dost thou too, and therein dignified.

C group

1. Make answer, Muse: wilt thou not haply say
2. Beauty no pencil, beauty's truth to lay;

D group

1. 'Truth needs no colour, with his colour fix'd;
2. But best is best, if never intermix'd?'

E group

1. Because he needs no praise, wilt thou be dumb?
2. To make him much outlive a gilded tomb,

F group

1. Excuse not silence so; for't lies in thee
2. And to be praised of ages yet to be.

Iambic pentameter: In line 3, the stressed words are: truth, beauty, love, depends. In line 6, the stressed words are: needs, colour(x2),. In line 11, the stressed words are: make, much, outlive, and gilded.

Sonnet Analysis: In the sonnet Shakespeare writes of how the Muse is not better than him and how better and best should not be intermixed, and at the end of the poem, in a cocky fashion, he writes that he is willing to teach her his ways.

Decree: is law, rule, or standard.