| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | A calculation upon the birth of an Honourable Lady’s Daughter | | Henry Constable (1562–1613) |
| | Born in the year 1588, and on a Friday
FAIR by inheritance! whom born we see | |
| Both in the Wondrous Year, and on the day | |
| Wherein the fairest Planet beareth sway; | |
| The heavens to thee, this fortune doth decree! | |
| Thou of a world of hearts in time shall be | 5 |
| A Monarch great; and with one beauty’s ray | |
| So many hosts of hearts, thy face shall slay; | |
| As all the rest, for love, shall yield to thee! | |
| But even as ALEXANDER, when he knew | |
| His father’s conquests, wept; lest he should leave | 10 |
| No kingdom unto him for to subdue: | |
| So shall thy mother, thee of praise bereave! | |
| So many hearts already she hath slain; | |
As few behind to conquer shall remain.
F I N I S. | | | | |
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