To What Shall I Compare Her?

To what shall I compare her,
  That is as fair as she?
For she is fairer⁠—fairer
  Than the sea.
What shall be likened to her,
  The sainted of my youth?
For she is truer⁠—truer
  Than the truth.

As the stars are from the sleeper,
  Her heart is hid from me;
For she is deeper⁠—deeper
  Than the sea.
Yet in my dreams I view her
  Flush rosy with new ruth⁠—
Dreams! Ah, may these prove truer
  Than the truth.