Love
Sonnet II: Love in Justice Punishable Only with Like Love
From A Poetical Rhapsody (1602), ed. A. H. Bullen (1890–91)
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.
Codex Note
In the Rhapsody (ii. 1-20) among the poems Bullen gives to Walter Davison.
Cite this poem
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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More by Walter Davison
- Sonnet IV: Praise of Her Eyes, Excelling All Comparison
- Sonnet VI: That She Hath Greater Power over His Happiness and Life than Either Fortune, Fate, or Stars
- Ode II: A Dialogue between Him and His Heart
- Sonnet XI: Why Her Lips Yield Him No Words of Comfort
- Sonnet XIV: He Desires Leave to Write of His Love