Absence, hear thou my protestation

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
He soon 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 motions
Which now within
Reason doth win
Redoubl'd in her secret notions;
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 I both enjoy and miss her