Sonnet XLI: Having This Day My Horse

Having this day my horse, my hand, my lance

Guided so well that I obtain'd the prize,

Both by the judgment of the English eyes

And of some sent from that sweet enemy France;

Horsemen my skill in horsemanship advance,

Town folks my strength; a daintier judge applies

His praise to sleight which from good use doth rise;

Some lucky wits impute it but to chance;

Others, because of both sides I do take

My blood from them who did excel in this,

Think Nature me a man of arms did make.

How far they shot awry! The true cause is,

Stella look'd on, and from her heav'nly face

Sent forth the beams which made so fair my race.