| |
| SINCE Love will needs that I shall love, | |
| Of very force I must agree: | |
| And since no chance may it remove, | |
| In wealth and in adversity, | |
| I shall alway myself apply | 5 |
| To serve and suffer patiently. | |
| Though for good will I find but hate, | |
| And cruelly my life to waste, | |
| And though that still a wretched state | |
| Should pine my days unto the last, | 10 |
| Yet I profess it willingly | |
| To serve and suffer patiently. | |
| For since my heart is bound to serve, | |
| And I not ruler of mine own, | |
| Whatso befall, till that I sterve | 15 |
| By proof full well it shall be known, | |
| That I shall still myself apply | |
| To serve and suffer patiently. | |
| Yea though my grief find no redress, | |
| But still increase before mine eyes, | 20 |
| Though my reward be cruelness, | |
| With all the harm hap can devise, | |
| Yet I profess it willingly | |
| To serve and suffer patiently. | |
| Yea though Fortune her pleasant face | 25 |
| Should shew, to set me up aloft, | |
| And straight my wealth for to deface, | |
| Should writhe away, as she doth oft, | |
| Yet would I still myself apply | |
| To serve and suffer patiently. | 30 |
| There is no grief, no smart, no woe, | |
| That yet I feel, or after shall, | |
| That from this mind may make me go; | |
| And whatsoever me befall, | |
| I do profess it willingly | 35 |
| To serve and suffer patiently. | |
| |
