And though with words thou wee'nst to reign, It doth suffice that once I had.

Since that in checks thus overthwart, And coyly looks thou dost delight;

It doth suffice that mine thou wert, Though change hath put thy faith to flight.

Alas! it is a peevish spite,

To yield thyself and then to part;
But since thou force thy faith so light,
It doth suffice that mine thou wert.

And since thy love doth thus decline,
And in thy heart such hate doth grow;
It doth suffice that thou wert mine,
And with good will I quite it so.
Sometime my friend, farewell my foe,
Since thou change I am not thine;
But for relief of all my woe,

It doth suffice that thou wert mine.

Praying you all that hear this song,
To judge no wight, nor none to blame;
It doth suffice she doth me wrong,
And that herself doth know the same.

And though she change it is no shame,
Their kind it is, and hath been long:
Yet I protest she hath no name;
It doth suffice she doth me wrong.

HE COMPLAINETH TO HIS HEART

THAT HAVING ONCE RECOVERED HIS FREEDOM HE HAD

AGAIN BECOME THRALL TO LOVE.

Aн! my heart, what aileth thee?
To set so light my liberty!

Making me bond when I was free:

Ah! my heart, what aileth thee?

When thou were rid from all distress,
Void of all pain and pensiveness,
To choose again a new mistress;

Ah! my heart, what aileth thee?

When thou were well thou could not hold :
To turn again, that were too bold;

Thus to renew my sorrows old,

Ah! my heart, what aileth thee? Thou know'st full well that but of late, I was turned out of Love's gate : And now to guide me to this mate!

Ah! my heart, what aileth thee?

I hop'd full well all had been done;
But now my hope is ta'en and won;
To my torment to yield so soon,

Ah! my heart, what aileth thee?

HE PROFESSETH INDIFFERENCE.

HATE whom ye list, for I care not;
Love whom ye list, and spare not;
Do what ye list, and dread not;
Think what ye list, I fear not;
For as for me I am not;

But even as one that recks not,
Whether ye hate or hate not,
For in your love I dote not;
Wherefore I pray you forget not;

But love whom ye list, for I care not.

HE REJOICETH THAT HE HAD BROKEN

THE SNARES OF LOVE.

TANGLED I was in Love's snare,

Oppressed with pain, torment with care;
Of grief right sure, of joy full bare,
Clean in despair by cruelty;

But ha ha! ha! full well is me,
For I am now at liberty.

The woful days so full of pain,
The weary night all spent in vain,
The labour lost for so small gain,

To write them all it will not be ;
But ha ha! ha! full well is me,
For I am now at liberty.

Every thing that fair doth shew,
When proof is made it proveth not so;
But turneth mirth to bitter woe,
Which in this case full well I see;
But ha ha ha! full well is me,
For I am now at liberty.

Too great desire was my guide,
And wanton will went by my side,
Hope ruled still and made me bide,
Of Love's craft the extremity.

But ha ha ha! full well is me,

For I am now at liberty.

With feigned words, which were but wind,

To long delays I was assign'd;

Her wily looks my wits did blind;

Thus as she would I did agree.
But ha ha ha! full well is me,
For I am now at liberty.

Was never bird tangled in lime
That brake away in better time,
Than I, that rotten boughs did climb,
And had no hurt but scaped free.
Now ha ha! ha! full well is me,
For I am now at liberty.

THE LOVER PRAYETH

THAT HIS LADY'S HEART MIGHT BE ENFLAMED WITH

EQUAL AFFECTION.

LOVE doth again

Put me to pain,

And yet all is but lost.
I serve in vain,

And am certain,

Of all misliked most.

Both heat and cold

Doth so me hold,

And comber so my mind;
That whom I should

Speak and behold,

It driveth me still behind.

My wits be past,

My life doth waste,

My comfort is exiled;

And I in haste,

Am like to taste

How love hath me beguiled.

Unless that right

May in her sight

Obtain pity and grace;

Why should a wight

Have beauty bright,

If mercy have no place.