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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

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.

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 speedless1 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. In ure:' in practice.

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

4 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.

5 But I of force must needs forsake
My faith so fondly set;

And from henceforth must undertake
Such folly to forget.

6 Now must I seek some other ways
Myself for to withsave;1

And as I trust by mine essays
Some remedy to have.

7 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.

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

2 Forget not yet when first began
The weary life ye know, since whan

1Withsave:' preserve.

The suit, the service none tell can;
Forget not yet!

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

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

5 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 liv'd 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.

THAT NOTHING MAY ASSUAGE HIS PAIN
SAVE ONLY HIS LADY'S FAVOUR.

1 IF with complaint the pain might be express'd
That inwardly doth cause me sigh and groan;
Your hard heart, and your cruel breast
Should sigh and plain for my unrest;

And though it were of stone,

Yet should remorse cause it relent and moan.

2 But since it is so far out of measure,

That with my words I can it not contain,
My only trust! my heart's treasure!
Alas! why do I still endure

This restless smart and pain?
ye list ye may my woe restrain.

Since if

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