| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Licia | | Sonnet XXII. “I might have died before my life began | | Giles Fletcher (1586?–1623) |
| | | “I MIGHT have died before my life began; | |
| When as my father, for his country’s good, | |
| The Persians’ favour and the Sophy wan: | |
| But yet with danger of his dearest blood.” | |
| Thy father, Sweet, whom danger did beset, | 5 |
| Escapèd all: and for no other end | |
| But only this, that you he might beget: | |
| Whom heavens decreed into the world to send. | |
| Then, father, thank thy daughter for thy life! | |
| And Neptune praise, that yielded so to thee, | 10 |
| To calm the tempest, when the storms were rife; | |
| And that thy daughter should a VENUS be. | |
| I call thee VENUS, Sweet! but be not wroth; | |
| Thou art more chaste, yet seas did favour both. | | | | |
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