XXVII. The Blazing Star foretells the hapless fall

Robert Tofte (1561–1620)

THE BLAZING Star foretells the hapless fall,

And sudden death of others, soon to come.

To me a Face, brighter than Comets all,

Doth, with her looks, my fortune hard forerun;

And with her shooting darts, from glancing eye,

Presageth that, ere long, I needs must die.

The Blazing Star death only prophesies;

This doth foreshew to me a harder fate:

And dares me to mine end, in warlike wise;

Nor how this Challenge know I to escape.

Ah, cruel Star! of death not only sign;

But murderer th’ art of this poor life of mine.