I might have died before my life begun, br Whenas my father for his country's good br The Persian's favor and the Sophey won br And yet with danger of his dearest blood. br Thy father, sweet, whom danger did beset, br Escapéd all, and for no other end br But only this, that you he might beget, br Whom heavens decreed into the world to send. br Then father, thank thy daughter for thy life, br And Neptune praise that yielded so to thee, br To calm the tempest when the storms were rife, br And that thy daughter should a Venus be. br I call thee Venus, sweet, but be not wroth; br Thou art more chaste, yet seas did favor both.