| |
| UPON 1 a day as I did morne full sore | |
| For sundrie things wherewith my soull was grieved, | |
| My grieff increased, and grew more and more, | |
| I comfort fled, and could not be relieved; | |
| With heaviness myne heart was sore mischieved, | 5 |
| I loath’d my lyfe, I could not eat or drink; | |
| I might not speak, nor look to none that lived, | |
| But mused alone, and divers things did think. | |
| |
| This wretched world did so molest my mynd, | |
| I thought upon this fals and yron age, | 10 |
| And how our hearts were so to vyce inclyn’d, | |
| That Satan seem’d most frightfully to rage. | |
| Nothing on earth my sorrow could asswadge, | |
| I felt my sinne most stronglie to increase; | |
| I greiv’d the Sprite had want to be my pledge, | 15 |
| My soull was plunged in most deep distress. | |
| |
| All merriness did aggravate my payn, | |
| All earthlie joyes did still increase my wo; | |
| In companie I could no way remayn, | |
| But fled resort, and still alone did go. | 20 |
| My sillie soull was tossed to and fro | |
| With sundrie thoughts, which troubled me full sore; | |
| I preass’d to pray, but sighs ore set me so, | |
| I could do nought but groan, and say no more. | |
| |
| The trickling tears most abundantlye ran down, | 25 |
| Myne heart was eas’d when I had mourn’d my fill: | |
| Then I began my lamantation, | |
| And said, “O Lord! how long is it thy will | |
| That my poor sayncts shall be afflicted still? | |
| Alace! how long shall subtle Satan rage? | 30 |
| Make haste, O Lord, thy promise to fulfill; | |
| Make haste to end my paynfull pilgrimage.” | |
