2 Of love there is a kind
Which kindleth by abuse;
As in a feeble mind

Whom fancy may induce
By love's deceitful use,
To follow the fond lust
And proof of a vain trust.

3 As I myself may say,

By trial of the same;

No wight can well bewray
That falsehood love can frame;

I

say, 'twixt grief and game,

There is no living man

That knows the craft love can.

4 For love so well can feign
To favour for the while;
That such as seeks the gain

Are served with the guile;
And some can this concile1
To give the simple leave
Themselves for to deceive.

5 What thing may more declare Of love the crafty kind,

Than see the wise so ware,

In love to be so blind;
If so it be assign'd;

Let them enjoy the gain,

That thinks it worth the pain.

1 Concile:' reconcile.

THAT THE POWER OF LOVE EXCUSETH

THE FOLLY OF LOVING.

1 SINCE love is such as that ye wot
Cannot always be wisely used;
I say therefore then blame me not,
Though I therein have been abused.
For as with cause I am accused,
Guilty I grant such was my lot;

And though it cannot be excused,
Yet let such folly be forgot.

2 For in my years of reckless youth

Methought the power of love so great, That to his laws I bound my truth,

1

And to my will there was no let. Me list no more so far to fet;' Such fruit! lo! as of love ensu'th;

The gain was small that was to get, And of the loss the less the ruth.

3 And few there is but first or last,

A time in love once shall they have;
And glad I am my time is past,

Henceforth my freedom to withsave.2
Now in my heart there shall I grave
The granted grace that now I taste;
Thanked be fortune that me gave
So fair a gift, so sure and fast.

4 Now such as have me seen ere this, When youth in me set forth his kind, 1'Fet:' fetch.-2 Withsave:' preserve.

And folly framed my thought amiss,
The fault whereof now well I find;
Lo! since that so it is assign'd,
That unto each a time there is,
Then blame the lot that led my mind,
Some time to live in love's bliss.

5 But from henceforth I do protest,
By proof of that that I have past,
Shall never cease within my breast
The power of love so late outcast:
The knot thereof is knit full fast,
And I thereto so sure profess'd

For evermore with me to last
The power wherein I am possess'd.

THE DOUBTFUL LOVER

RESOLVETH TO BE ASSURED WHETHER HE IS TO LIVE IN JOY OR WOE.

1 Lo! how I seek and sue to have

That no man hath, and may be had; There is [no] more but sink or save, And bring this doubt to good or bad. To live in sorrows always sad,

I like not so to linger forth;

Hap evil or good I shall be glad

To take that comes, as well in worth.1

2 Should I sustain this great distress,
Still wandering forth thus to and fro,
1' Worth:' meekly, patiently.

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.

3 I shall assay by secret suit

And

To shew the mind of mine intent;
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.

1 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!

H

HE BIDDETH FAREWELL TO HIS UNKIND

MISTRESS.

1 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:

2 But cursèd be that cruel heart

Which hath procur'd a careless mind,
For me and mine unfeigned smart;

And forceth me such faults to find.

3 More than too much I am assured
Of thine intent, whereto to trust;
A speedless 1 proof I have endured;

And now I leave it to them that lust.

HE REPENTETH THAT HE HAD EVER
LOVED.

1 Now must I learn to live at rest,
And wean me of my will;

For I repent where I was prest2
My fancy to fulfil.

2 I may no longer more endure
My wonted life to lead;
But I must learn to put in ure3
The change of womanhed.

3 I may not see my service long

Rewarded in such wise;

1'Speedless:' ineffectual.-2' Prest :' ready.--3 In ure:' in practice.