| |
| AS power and wit will me assist, | |
| My will shall will even as ye list. | |
| For as ye list my will is bent | |
| In every thing to be content, | |
| To serve in love ’till life be spent; | 5 |
| So you reward my love thus meant, | |
| Even as ye list. | |
| To feign, or fable is not my mind, | |
| Nor to refuse such as I find; | |
| But as a lamb of humble kind, | 10 |
| Or bird in cage to be assign’d, | |
| Even as ye list. | |
| When all the flock is come and gone | |
| Mine eye and heart agree’th in one, | |
| Hath chosen you, only, alone, | 15 |
| To be my joy, or else my moan, | |
| Even as ye list. | |
| Joy, if pity appear in place; | |
| Moan, if disdain do shew his face, | |
| Yet crave I not as in this case, | 20 |
| But as ye lead to follow the trace, | |
| Even as ye list. | |
| Some in words much love can feign; | |
| And some for words give words again: | |
| Thus words for words in words remain, | 25 |
| And yet at last words do obtain | |
| Even as ye list. | |
| To crave in words I will eschew, | |
| And love in deed I will ensue; | |
| It is my mind both whole and true, | 30 |
| And for my truth I pray you rue | |
| Even as ye list. | |
| Dear heart! I bid your heart farewell, | |
| With better heart than tongue can tell; | |
| Yet take this tale, as true as gospel, | 35 |
| Ye may my life save or expel | |
| Even as ye list. | |
| |
