| |
| ONCE, as methought, fortune me kiss’d, | |
| And bade me ask what I thought best, | |
| And I should have it as me list, | |
| Therewith to set my heart in rest. | |
| I asked but my lady’s heart, | 5 |
| To have for evermore mine own; | |
| Then at an end were all my smart; | |
| Then should I need no more to moan. | |
| Yet for all that a stormy blast | |
| Had overturn’d this goodly nay; | 10 |
| And fortune seemed at the last | |
| That to her promise she said nay. | |
| But like as one out of despair, | |
| To sudden hope revived I, | |
| Now Fortune sheweth herself so fair, | 15 |
| That I content me wondrously. | |
| My most desire my hand may reach, | |
| My will is alway at my hand; | |
| Me need not long for to beseech | |
| Her, that hath power me to command. | 20 |
| What earthly thing more can I crave? | |
| What would I wish more at my will? | |
| Nothing on earth more would I have, | |
| Save that I have, to have it still. | |
| For Fortune now hath kept her promess, | 25 |
| In granting me my most desire: | |
| Of my sovereign I have redress, | |
| And I content me with my hire. | |
| |
