| |
| THE KNOT which first my heart did strain, | |
| When that your servant I became, | |
| Doth bind me still for to remain, | |
| Always your own as now I am; | |
| And if you find that I do feign, | 5 |
| With just judgment myself I damn, | |
| To have disdain. | |
| If other thought in me do grow | |
| But still to love you steadfastly; | |
| If that the proof do not well shew | 10 |
| That I am yours assuredly; | |
| Let ev’ry wealth turn me to woe, | |
| And you to be continually | |
| My chiefest foe. | |
| If other love, or new request, | 15 |
| Do seize my heart, but only this; | |
| Or if within my wearied breast | |
| Be hid one thought that means amiss, | |
| I do desire that mine unrest | |
| May still increase, and I to miss | 20 |
| That I love best. | |
| If in my love there be one spot | |
| Of false deceit or doubleness; | |
| Or if I mind to slip this knot | |
| By want of faith or steadfastness; | 25 |
| Let all my service be forgot, | |
| And when I would have chief redress, | |
| Esteem me not. | |
| But if that I consume in pain | |
| Of burning sighs and fervent love; | 30 |
| And daily seek none other gain, | |
| But with my deed these words to prove; | |
| Me think of right I should obtain | |
| That ye would mind for to remove | |
| Your great disdain. | 35 |
| And for the end of this my song, | |
| Unto your hands I do submit | |
| My deadly grief, and pains so strong | |
| Which in my heart be firmly shut, | |
| And when ye list, redress my wrong: | 40 |
| Since well ye know this painful fit | |
| Hath last too long. | |
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