Love

Sonnet II: Love in Justice Punishable Only with Like Love

by Walter Davison born 1581; living 1602

From A Poetical Rhapsody (1602), ed. A. H. Bullen (1890–91)

Love

But if my lines may not be held excused,
Nor yet my love find favour in your eyes;
But that your eyes as judges shall be used,
Even of the fault which from themselves doth rise,
Yet this my humble suit do not despise;
Let me be judged as I stand accused:
If but my fault my doom do equalize,
Whate'er it be, it shall not be refused.
And since my love already is expressed,
And that I cannot stand upon denial,
I freely put myself upon my trial;
Let justice judge me as I have confessed:
For if my doom in Justice scales be weighed
With equal love, my love must be repaid.

✦ ✦ ✦

In the Rhapsody (ii. 1-20) among the poems Bullen gives to Walter Davison.

MLA

Davison, Walter. “Sonnet II: Love in Justice Punishable Only with Like Love.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/davison_w/2/.

Chicago

Davison, Walter. “Sonnet II: Love in Justice Punishable Only with Like Love.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/davison_w/2/.

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