Love

Sonnet VI: That She Hath Greater Power over His Happiness and Life than Either Fortune, Fate, or Stars

by Walter Davison born 1581; living 1602

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

Love

Let Fate, my Fortune, and my Stars conspire,
Jointly to pour on me their worst disgrace;
So I be gracious in your heavenly face,
I weigh not Fates, nor Stars, nor Fortune's ire.
'Tis not the influence of heaven's fire
Hath power to make me blessed in my race;
Nor in my happiness hath Fortune place,
Nor yet can Fate my poor life's date expire.
'Tis your fair eyes, my Stars, all bliss do give;
'Tis your disdain, my Fate, hath power to kill;
'Tis you, my Fortune, make me happy live,
Though Fortune, Fate, and Stars conspire mine ill.
Then, blessed Saint, into your favour take me;
Fortune, nor Fate, nor Stars can wretched make me.

✦ ✦ ✦

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

MLA

Davison, Walter. “Sonnet VI: That She Hath Greater Power over His Happiness and Life than Either Fortune, Fate, or Stars.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/davison_w/7/.

Chicago

Davison, Walter. “Sonnet VI: That She Hath Greater Power over His Happiness and Life than Either Fortune, Fate, or Stars.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/davison_w/7/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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