| |
| I HAVE sought long with steadfastness | |
| To have had some ease of my great smart: | |
| But nought availeth faithfulness | |
| To grave within your stony heart. | |
| But hap, and hit, or else hit not, | 5 |
| As uncertain as is the wind; | |
| Right so it fareth by the shot | |
| Of Love, alas! that is so blind. | |
| Therefore I play’d the fool in vain, | |
| With pity when I first began | 10 |
| Your cruel heart for to constrain, | |
| Since love regardeth no doubtful man. | |
| But of your goodness, all your mind | |
| Is that I should complain in vain; | |
| This is the favour that I find; | 15 |
| Ye list to hear how I can plain! | |
| But tho’ I plain to please your heart, | |
| Trust me I trust to temper it so, | |
| Not for to care which do revert; | |
| All shall be one, or wealth, or woe. | 20 |
| For fancy ruleth, though Right say nay, | |
| Even as the good man kist his cow; | |
| None other reason can ye lay, | |
| But as who sayeth; ‘I reck not how.’ | |
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