Where doth encrease my care, much better were

for me,

As dumme as stone, all things forgot, still absent for

to be.

Alas the clear christall, the bright transplendant

glasse,

Doth not bewray the colours hid which vnderneath it hase;

As doth thaccumbred sprite the thoughtfull throwes discouer,

Of feares delite of fervent loue, that in our hartes

we couer.

Out by these eyes it sheweth that evermore de

light;

In plaint and teares to seek redress, and eke both day and night.

Those kindes of pleasures most wherein men so reioyce,

To me they do redouble still of stormy sighes the

voyce,

For, I am one of them, whom playnt doth well con

tent,

It fittes me well my absent wealth me semes for to lament;

And with my teares tassy to charge mine eyes twaine,

Like as my hart aboue the brink is fraughted full of payne:

And for because thereto, that those faire eyes to

treate

Do me prouoke, I will returne, my plaint thus to repeat:

For there is nothing els so toucheth me within, Where they rule all, and I alone nought but the case or skin;

Wherefore I shall returne to them, as well, or spring From whom descends my mortal woe, aboue all other thing.

So shall mine eyes in payne accompany my hart, That were the guides, that did it lead of loue to feel the smart.

The crisped gold that doth surmount Appollos pride,

The liuely streames of pleasant starres that vnder it doth glide.

Wherein the beames of loue doe still increase theire heate,

Which yet so farre touch me to near in cold to make me sweat :

The wise and pleasant talke, soe rare or else alone, That gave to me the curteis gift, that earst had

neuer none.

Be farre from me alas, and euery other thing, I might forbeare with better will, then this that did me bring

With pleasand woord and cheer, redress of lingred payne,

And wonted oft in kindled will to vertue me to

trayne.

Thus am I forst to hear and harken after newes, My comfort scant, my large desire in doubtful trust

renewes.

And yet with more delight to mone my wofull case, I must complaine those hands, those armes, that firmly do embrace

Me from my self, and rule the sterne of my poor life,

The swete disdaynes, the pleasant wrathes, and eke the louely strife.

That wonted well to tune in temper iust and mete, The rage, that oft did make me erre, by furour vndiscrete.

All this is hid fro me with sharp and ragged hilles, At others will my long abode, my depe dyspayr fulfilles.

And if my hope sometime ryse vp by some redresse,

It stumbleth straight for feable faint my fear hath such excesse.

Such is the sort of hope, the less for more desyre, And yet I trust, ere that I dye, to se that I require. The resting place of loue, where virtue dwells and growes,

There I desire my wery life sometime may take

repose.

My song thou shalt attain to find that pleasant place, Where she doth liue by whom I liue: may chance to haue this grace,

When she hath read, and seen the griefe wherein I serue,

Between her breasts she shall thee put there shall she thee reserue.

Then tell her, that I come, she shall me shortly see, And if for waighte the body fayle, the soul shall to her flee.

THE LOUER BLAMETH HIS LOUE FOR RENTING OF THE
LETTER HE SENT HER.

SUFFISED not (Madame) that you did teare,
My wofull hart, but thus also to rent

The weping paper that to you I sent;

Whereof ech letter was written with a tear?

Could not my present paynes (alas) suffise
Your gredy hart, and that my hart doth fele
Torments that prick more sharper than the stele ?
But new and new must to my lot arise.

Vse then my death: soe shall your cruelty,
Spite of your spyte rid me from all my smart,
And I no more such torments of the hart
Fele as I doe. This shall you gain thereby.

THE LOUER CURSETH THE TIME WHEN FIRST HE FELL IN LOUE.

WHEN fyrst mine eyes did view and marke,
Thy fair beawtie to behold,

And when my ears lystned to harke,
The pleasant words that thou me told;
I would as then I had ben free,
From ears to hear, and eyes to see.
And when my lips gan fyrst to moue,
Wherby my hart to thee was knowne,
And when my tong did talke of loue,
To thee that hast true loue downe throwne.
I would my lipps and tong also

Had then bene dum, no deal to go.
And when my hands haue handled ought,
That thee hath kept in memorie,
And when my feet haue gone and sought
To find and get thee companie.

I would eche hand a foot had bene,
And I eche foote a hand had sene.
And when in minde I did consent,
To folow this my fancies will,

And when my hart did first relent,
To taste such bait my life to spill.
I would my hart had bene as thine,
Or els thy hart had been as myne.

THE LOUER DETERMINETH TO SERUE FAITHFULLY,

remoue,

SINCE loue will needs that I shall loue,
Of very force I must agree,
And since no chance may it
In wealth and in adversitie.
I shall alway my selfe apply,
To serve and suffer paciently.

Though for good will I finde but hate,
And cruely my life to wast,

And though that still a wretched state
Should pine my days vnto the last :
Yet I profess it willingly,

To serue and suffer paciently.

For since my hart is bound to serue,
And I not ruler of mine owne,

What soe befall, till that I sterue,
By proofe full well it shall be knowne,
That I shall still my selfe apply,

To serue and suffer paciently.

Yet though my griefe finde no redresse,
But still encrease before mine eyes,
Though my reward be cruelnesse,
With all the harme, happe can deuise,

Yet I professe it willingly

To serue and suffer paciently.