| |
| GREAT and good if she deride me, | |
| Let me walk, I’ll not despair; | |
| Ere to-morrow I’ll provide me | |
| One as great, less proud, more fair. | |
| They that seek love to constrain | 5 |
| Have their labour for their pain. | |
| |
| They that strongly can importune, | |
| And will never yield nor tire, | |
| Gain the pay in spite of Fortune; | |
| But such gain I’ll not desire. | 10 |
| Where the prize is shame or sin, | |
| Winners lose, and losers win. | |
| |
| Look upon the faithful lover; | |
| Grief stands painted in his face; | |
| Groans and sighs and tears discover | 15 |
| That they are his only grace. | |
| He must weep as children do, | |
| That will in the fashion woo. | |
| |
| I, who fly these idle fancies | |
| Which my dearest rest betray, | 20 |
| Warn’d by other’s harmful chances, | |
| Use my freedom as I may. | |
| When all the world says what it can, | |
| ’Tis but—O! unconstant man! | |
| |
