Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | Sonnets after Astrophel, etc. | Megliora spero: Faction that ever dwells in Court where wit excels | Edward Vere, Earl of Oxford (15501604) |
| FACTION that ever dwells in Court where wit excels, | |
Hath set defiance. | |
FORTUNE and LOVE have sworn that they were never born | |
Of one alliance. | |
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CUPID which doth aspire to be god of Desire, | 5 |
Swears he gives laws; | |
That where his arrows hit, some joy, some sorrow it: | |
FORTUNE no cause. | |
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FORTUNE swears weakest hearts, the books of CUPIDs arts, | |
turned with her wheel, | 10 |
Senseless themselves shall prove. Venture hath place in love. | |
Ask them that feel! | |
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This discord it begot atheists, that honour not. | |
NATURE thought good | |
FORTUNE should ever dwell in Court where wits excel; | 15 |
LOVE keep the wood. | |
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So to the wood went I, with LOVE to live and die. | |
FORTUNEs forlorn. | |
Experience of my youth made me think humble TRUTH | |
In deserts born. | 20 |
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My saint I keep to me, and JOAN herself is free, | |
JOAN fair and true! | |
She that doth only move passions of love with LOVE. | |
FORTUNE! adieu!
F I N I S. E. O. [i.e., EDWARD DE VERE, Earl of OXFORD.] | | | |
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