And some there be that when it chanceth so
That women change, and hate where love hath been,
They call them false, and think with words to win
The hearts of them which otherwhere doth grow.
But as for me, though that by chance indeed
Change hath outworn the favour that I had,
I will not wail, lament, nor yet be sad,
Nor call her false that falsely did me feed;
But let it pass, and think it is of kind
That often change doth please a woman's mind.
THAT HOPE UNSATISFIED IS TO THE
LOVER'S HEART AS A PROLONGED DEATH.
I ABIDE, and abide; and better abide,
After the old proverb, the happy day.
And ever my lady to me doth say,
'Let me alone, and I will provide.'
I abide, and abide, and tarry the tide,
And with abiding speed well ye may.
Thus do I abide I wot alway,
N' other obtaining, nor yet denied.
Aye me! this long abiding
Seemeth to me, as who sayeth
A prolonging of a dying death,
Or a refusing of a desired thing.
Much were it better for to be plain,
Than to say, 'Abide,' and yet not obtain.
HE PRAYETH HIS LADY TO BE TRUE;
FOR NO ONE CAN RESTRAIN A WILLING MIND.
THOUGH I myself be bridled of my mind,
Returning me backward by force express;
If thou seek honour, to keep thy promess
Who may thee hold, but thou thyself unbind?
Sigh then no more, since no way man may find
Thy virtue to let, though that frowardness
Of Fortune me holdeth; and yet as I may guess
Though other be present thou art not all behind.
Suffice it then that thou be ready there
At all hours; still under the defence
Of Time, Truth, and Love to save thee from offence.
Crying I burn in a lovely desire,
With my dear mistress that may not follow;
Whereby mine absence turneth me to sorrow.
THE DESERTED LOVER
WISHETH THAT HIS RIVAL MIGHT EXPERIENCE THE SAME FORTUNE HE HIMSELF HAD TASTED.
To rail or jest, ye know I use it not;
Though that such cause sometime in folks I find.
And though to change ye list to set your mind,
Love it who list, in faith I like it not.
And if ye were to me, as ye are not,
I would be loth to see you so unkind:
But since your fault must needs be so by kind;
Though I hate it I pray you love it not.
Things of great weight I never thought to crave,
This is but small; of right deny it not:
Your feigning ways, as yet forget them not.
But like reward let other lovers have;
That is to say, for service true and fast,
Too long delays, and changing at the last.
REQUEST TO CUPID FOR REVENGE OF
HIS UNKIND LOVE.
BEHOLD, Love! thy power how she despiseth;
My grievous pain how little she regardeth:
The solemn oath, whereof she takes no cure,
Broken she hath, and yet she bideth sure,
Right at her ease, and little thee she dreadeth:
Weapon'd thou art, and she unarmed sitteth:
To thee disdainful, all her life she leadeth;
To me spiteful, without just cause or measure:
Behold, Love, how proudly she triumpheth.
I am in hold, but if thee pity moveth,
Go, bend thy bow, that stony hearts breaketh,
And with some stroke revenge the displeasure
Of thee, and him that sorrow doth endure,
And, as his lord, thee lowly here entreateth.
Behold, Love!
COMPLAINT FOR TRUE LOVE
UNREQUITED.
WHAT 'vaileth truth, or by it to take pain?
To strive by steadfastness for to attain
How to be just, and flee from doubleness?
Since all alike, where ruleth craftiness,
Rewarded is both crafty, false, and plain.
Soonest he speeds that most can lie and feign: True meaning heart is had in high disdain.
Against deceit and cloaked doubleness,
What 'vaileth truth, or perfect steadfastness?
Deceiv'd is he by false and crafty train,1
That means no guile, and faithful doth remain
Within the trap, without help or redress:
But for to love, lo, such a stern mistress,
Where cruelty dwells, alas, it were in vain.
THE LOVER SENDETH SIGHS TO MOVE
HIS SUIT.
Go, burning sighs! unto the frozen heart,
To break the ice, which pity's painful dart
Might never pierce: and if that mortal prayer
In heaven be heard, at least yet I desire
That death, or mercy, end my woful smart.
Take with thee pain, whereof I have my part,
And eke the flame from which I cannot start,
And leave me then in rest, I you require.
Go, burning sighs! fulfil that I desire,
I must go work, I see, by craft and art, For truth and faith in her is laid apart: Alas, I cannot therefore now assail her, With pitiful complaint and scalding fire, That from my breast deceivably doth start.
THE LOVER SEEKING FOR HIS LOST
PRAYETH THAT IT MAY BE KINDLY ENTREATED
BY WHOMSOEVER FOUND.
1 HELP me to seek! for I lost it there;
And if that ye have found it, ye that be herc,
And seek to convey it secretly,
Handle it soft, and treat it tenderly,
Or else it will plain, and then appair.'
But pray restore it mannerly,
Since that I do ask it thus honestly,
For to lese it, it sitteth me near;
Help me to seek!
2 Alas! and is there no remèdy:
But have I thus lost it wilfully.
I wis it was a thing all too dear
To be bestowed, and wist not where.
It was mine heart! I pray you heartily
Help me to seek.
HE DETERMINETH TO CEASE TO LOVE.
FOR to love her for her looks lovely,
My heart was set in thought right firmly,
Trusting by truth to have had redress;
But she hath made another promess,
And hath given me leave full honestly.
Yet do I not rejoice it greatly;
For on my faith I loved too surely,
But reason will that I do cesse,
Since (that in love the pains been deadly,)
Methink it best that readily
I do return to my first address;
For at this time too great is the press,
And perils appear too abundantly,
For to love her.
1 'Appair: Decay.
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