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| I AM as I am, and so will I be; | |
| But how that I am, none knoweth truly. | |
| Be it evil, be it well, be I bond, be I free, | |
| I am as I am, and so will I be. | |
| I lead my life indifferently; | 5 |
| I mean nothing but honesty; | |
| And though folks judge full diversely, | |
| I am as I am, and so will I die. | |
| I do not rejoice, nor yet complain, | |
| Both mirth and sadness I do refrain, | 10 |
| And use the means since folks will feign; | |
| Yet I am as I am, be it pleasure or pain. | |
| Divers do judge as they do trow, | |
| Some of pleasure and some of woe, | |
| Yet for all that nothing they know; | 15 |
| But I am as I am, wheresoever I go. | |
| But since judgers do thus decay, | |
| Let every man his judgment say; | |
| I will it take in sport and play, | |
| For I am as I am, whosoever say nay. | 20 |
| Who judgeth well, well God him send; | |
| Who judgeth evil, God them amend; | |
| To judge the best therefore intend, | |
| For I am as I am, and so will I end. | |
| Yet some there be that take delight | 25 |
| To judge folks’ thought for envy and spite; | |
| But whether they judge me wrong or right, | |
| I am as I am, and so do I write. | |
| Praying you all that this do read, | |
| To trust it as you do your creed; | 30 |
| And not to think I change my weed, | |
| For I am as I am, however I speed. | |
| But how that is I leave to you; | |
| Judge as ye list, false or true, | |
| Ye know no more than afore ye knew, | 35 |
| Yet I am as I am, whatever ensue. | |
| And from this mind I will not flee, | |
| But to you all that misjudge me, | |
| I do protest as ye may see | |
| That I am as I am, and so will he. | 40 |
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