| |
| LOVE, I repent me that I thought | |
| My sighs and languish dearly bought: | |
| For sighs and languish both did prove | |
| That he that languished sighed for love. | |
| Cruel rigour, foe to State, | 5 |
| Looks disdainful, fraught with hate, | |
| I did blame: but had no cause | |
| (Love hath eyes, but hath no laws). | |
| She was sad, and could not choose | |
| To see me sigh, and sit and muse. | 10 |
| We both did love, and both did doubt [fear] | |
| Lest any should our love find out. | |
| Our hearts did speak by sighs most hidden; | |
| This means was left: all else forbidden. | |
| I did frown, her love to try | 15 |
| She did sigh, and straight did cry. | |
| Both of us did signs believe | |
| Yet either grievèd friend to grieve. | |
| I did look, and then did smile: | |
| She left sighing all that while. | 20 |
| Both were glad to see that change; | |
| Things in love that are not strange. | |
| Suspicion, foolish foe to Reason, | |
| Caused me seek to find some treason | |
| I did court another Dame. | 25 |
| (False in love, it is a shame!) | |
| She was sorry this to view, | |
| Thinking faith was proved untrue. | |
| Then she swore, She would not love | |
| One, whom false She once did prove. | 30 |
| I did vow I never meant | |
| From promise made, for to relent. | |
| The more I said, the worse she thought: | |
| My oaths and vows were deemed as nought. | |
| “False!” She said, “how can it be, | 35 |
| To court another; yet love me? | |
| Crowns and Love no partners brook: | |
| If she be liked, I am forsook! | |
| Farewell, False! and love her still! | |
| Your chance was good, but mine was ill. | 40 |
| No harm to you: but this I crave, | |
| That your new Love may you deceive! | |
| And jest with you, as you have done: | |
| For light ’s the love that ’s quickly won.” | |
| “Kind and fair Sweet, once believe me! | 45 |
| Jest I did; but not to grieve thee. | |
| Court I did, but did not love. | |
| Words, and sighs, and what I spent | |
| In show to her; to you were meant. | |
| Fond [foolish] I was, your love to cross | 50 |
| (Jesting love oft brings this loss). | |
| Forget this fault! and love your friend, | |
| Which vows his truth unto the end!” | |
| “Content,” She said, “if this you keep.” | |
| Thus both did kiss, and both did weep. | 55 |
| For women long they cannot chide: | |
| As I, by proof, in this have tried. | |
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