Hap evil or good I shall be glad
To take that comes, as well in worth.
Should I sustain this great distress,
Still wandering forth thus to and fro,
In dreadful hope to hold my peace,
And feed myself with secret woe?
Nay! nay! certain, I will not so!
But sure I shall myself apply
To put in proof this doubt to know,
And rid this danger readily.

I shall assay by secret suit
To shew the mind of mine intent;
And my deserts shall give such fruit
As with my heart my words be meant;
So by the proof of this consent
Soon out of doubt I shall be sure,
For to rejoice, or to repent,
In joy, or pain for to endure.

OF THE EXTREME TORMENT ENDURED BY THE UNHAPPY LOVER.

My love is like unto th' eternal fire,
And I, as those which therein do remain ;
Whose grievous pains is but their great desire
To see the sight which they may not attain :
So in hell's heat myself I feel to be,

That am restrain'd by great extremity,
The sight of her which is so dear to me.
O! puissant Love! and power of great avail!
By whom hell may be felt ere death assail!

HE BIDDETH FAREWELL TO HIS UNKIND MISTRESS.

SINCE So ye please to hear me plain,
And that ye do rejoice my smart;
Me list no longer to remain

To such as be so overthwart :

But cursed be that cruel heart
Which hath procur'd a careless mind,
For me and mine unfeigned smart;
And forceth me such faults to find.
More than too much I am assured
Of thine intent, whereto to trust;
A speedless proof I have endured;
And now I leave it to them that lust.

HE REPENTETH THAT HE HAD EVER LOVED.

Now must I learn to live at rest,

And wean me of my will;

For I repent where I was prest

My fancy to fulfil.

I

may no longer more endure My wonted life to lead;

But I must learn to put in ure
The change of womanhed.

I may not see my service long
Rewarded in such wise;

Nor I may not sustain such wrong
That ye my love despise.

I

may not sigh in sorrow deep, Nor wail the want of love;

Nor I may neither crouch nor creep

Where it doth not behove.

But I of force must needs forsake

My faith so fondly set;

And from henceforth must undertake

Such folly to forget.

Now must I seek some other ways

Myself for to withsave;

And as I trust by mine essays

Some remedy to have.

I ask none other remedy To recompense my wrong; But once to have the liberty That I have lack'd so long.

THE LOVER BESEECHETH HIS MISTRESS NOT

TO FORGET HIS STEADFAST FAITH AND TRUE INTENT.

FORGET not yet the tried intent
Of such a truth as I have meant ;
My great travail so gladly spent,
Forget not yet!

Forget not yet when first began
The weary life ye know, since whan
The suit, the service none tell can;
Forget not yet!

Forget not yet the great assays,
The cruel wrong, the scornful ways,
The painful patience in delays,
Forget not yet!

Forget not! oh! forget not this,
How long ago hath been, and is
The mind that never meant amiss
Forget not yet!

Forget not then thine own approv'd,
The which so long hath thee so lov'd,
Whose steadfast faith yet never mov'd:
Forget not this!

HE BEWAILS THE PAIN HE ENDURES WHEN BANISHED FROM THE MISTRESS OF HIS HEART.

O! MISERABLE sorrow, withouten cure!
If it please thee, lo! to have me thus suffer,
At least yet let her know what I endure,
And this my last voice carry thou thither,
Where lived my hope, now dead for ever:
For as ill grievous is my banishment,
As was my pleasure when she was present.

HE COMPARES HIS SUFFERINGS TO THOSE OF TANTALUS.

THE fruit of all the service that I serve
Despair doth reap; such hapless hap have I.
But though he have no power to make me swerve,
Yet by the fire for cold I feel I die.

In paradise for hunger still I sterve,
And in the flood for thirst to death I dry;
So Tantalus am I, and in worse pain,
Amidst my help that helpless doth remain.