| |
| FOR want of will in woe I plain, | |
| Under colour of soberness; | |
| Renewing with my suit my pain, | |
| My wanhope with your steadfastness. | |
| Awake therefore of gentleness; | 5 |
| Regard, at length, I you require, | |
| My swelting pains of my desire. | |
| Betimes who giveth willingly, | |
| Redoubled thanks aye doth deserve; | |
| And I that sue unfeignedly, | 10 |
| In fruitless hope, alas! do sterve. | |
| How great my cause is for to swerve, | |
| And yet how steadfast is my suit, | |
| Lo, here ye see: where is the fruit? | |
| As hound that hath his keeper lost, | 15 |
| Seek I your presence to obtain; | |
| In which my heart delighteth most, | |
| And shall delight though I be slain. | |
| You may release my band of pain; | |
| Loose then the care that makes me cry | 20 |
| For want of help, or else I die. | |
| I die though not incontinent; | |
| By process, yet consumingly, | |
| As waste of fire which doth relent: | |
| If you as wilful will deny. | 25 |
| Wherefore cease of such cruelty, | |
| And take me wholly in your grace; | |
| Which lacketh will to change his place. | |
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