A Sonnet (or short poem) from a collection written by William Shakespeare, published in 1609. 

#35

Synopsis:

The poet excuses the beloved by citing examples of other naturally beautiful objects associated with things hurtful or ugly. He then accuses himself of being corrupted through excusing his beloved’s faults.

No more be grieved at that which thou hast done.

Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud;

Clouds and eclipses stain both moon and sun,

And loathsome canker lives in sweetest bud.

All men make faults, and even I in this,

Authorizing thy trespass with compare,

Myself corrupting salving thy amiss,

Excusing ⌜thy⌝ sins more than ⌜thy⌝ sins are.

For to thy sensual fault I bring in sense—

Thy adverse party is thy advocate—

And ’gainst myself a lawful plea commence.

Such civil war is in my love and hate

 That I an accessary needs must be

 To that sweet thief which sourly robs from me.

(Project Gutenberg, Public Domain)

Visuals from Sunrise: A Song of Two HumansDirected by F. W. Murnau, 1927 — public domain