characterless

Prophet may you be !
If I be false or swerve a hair from truth ,
When time is old and hath forgot itself ,
When water drops have worn the stones of Troy
And blind oblivion swallowed cities up ,
And mighty states characterless are grated
To dusty nothing , yet let memory ,
From false to false , among false maids in love ,
Upbraid my falsehood ! When they’ve said as false
As air , as water , wind or sandy earth ,
As fox to lamb , or wolf to heifer’s calf ,
Pard to the hind , or stepdame to her son ,
Yea , let them say , to stick the heart of falsehood ,
As false as Cressid .