The Lover curseth the Time when first he fell in Love

WHEN first mine eyes did view and mark

Thy fair beauty to behold;

And when my ears listened to hark

The pleasant words, that thou me told;

I would as then I had been free

From ears to hear, and eyes to see.

And when my lips gan first to move,

Whereby my heart to thee was known,

And when my tongue did talk of love

To thee that hast true love down thrown;

I would my lips and tongue also

Had then been dumb, no deal to go.

And when my hands have handled ought

That thee hath kept in memory,

And when my feet have gone and sought

To find and get thee company,

I would, each hand a foot had been,

And I each foot a hand had seen.

And when in mind I did consent,

To follow this my fancy’s will,

And when my heart did first relent

To taste such bait, my life to spill,

I would my heart had been as thine,

Or else thy heart had been as mine.