| |
| ABSENCE, absenting causeth me to complain, | |
| My sorrowful complaints abiding in distress; | |
| And departing most privy increaseth my pain, | |
| Thus live I uncomforted wrapped all in heaviness. | |
| In heaviness I am wrapped, devoid of all solace, | 5 |
| Neither pastime nor pleasure can revive my dull wit, | |
| My spirits be all taken, and death doth me menace, | |
| With his fatal knife the thread for to kit. | |
| For to cut the thread of this wretched life, | |
| And shortly bring me out of this case; | 10 |
| I see it availeth not, yet must I be pensive, | |
| Since fortune from me hath turned her face. | |
| Her face she hath turned with countenance contrarious, | |
| And clean from her presence she hath exiled me, | |
| In sorrow remaining as a man most dolorous, | 15 |
| Exempt from all pleasure and worldly felicity. | |
| All worldly felicity now am I private, | |
| And left in desart most solitarily, | |
| Wandering all about as one without mate; | |
| My death approacheth; what remedy! | 20 |
| What remedy, alas! to rejoice my woful heart, | |
| With sighs suspiring most ruefully; | |
| Now welcome! I am ready to depart; | |
| Farewell all pleasure! welcome pain and smart! | |
| |
