But I that truth Hath always meant, Doth still proceed to serve in vain : My time mispent, And doth not pass upon my pain. Of Fortune's might That each compels, And me the most, it doth suffice; To ask nought else But to withdraw this enterprise. And for the gain Of that good hour, Which of my woe shall be relief; THE ABSENT LOVER FINDETH ALL HIS ABSENCE, absenting causeth me to complain, For to cut the thread of this wretched life, Her face she hath turned with countenance con trarious, And clean from her presence she hath exiled me, What remedy, alas! to rejoice my woful heart, With sighs suspiring most ruefully; Now welcome! I am ready to depart; Farewell all pleasure! welcome pain and smart! HE SEEKETH COMFORT IN PATIENCE. PATIENCE! for I have wrong And dare not shew wherein; OF THE POWER OF LOVE OVER THE YIELDEN LOVER. WILL ye see what wonders Love hath wrought? Then come and look at me. There need no where else to be sought, In me ye may them see. For unto that, that men may see Most monstrous thing of kind, Myself may best compared be; Love hath me so assign'd. There is a rock in the salt flood, A rock of such nature, That draweth the iron from the wood, And leaveth the ship unsure. She is the rock, the ship am I; That rock my deadly foe, That draweth me there where I must die, A bird there fleeth, and that but one, That when her days be spent and gone, And I with her may well compare The flame whereof doth aye repair My life when it is gone. HE LAMENTETH THAT HE HAD EVER CAUSE DEEM as ye list upon good cause, Nor from my thought so let it go; I would it were not as I think ; I would I thought it were not.' Lo! how my thought might make me free, Of that perchance it needs not. Perchance none doubt the dread I see; I shrink at that I bear not. But in my heart this word shall sink, That is, as one that shall not shrink 'And if that be not as I think, THE RECURED LOVER EXULTETH IN HIS FREEDOM, AND VOWETH TO REMAIN FREE UNTIL DEATH. I AM as I am, and so will I be; But how that I am, none knoweth truly. I lead my life indifferently; I do not rejoice, nor yet complain, |