| |
| HEAVEN, and earth, and all that hear me plain | |
| Do well perceive what care doth make me cry; | |
| Save you alone, to whom I cry in vain; | |
| Mercy, Madam, alas! I die, I die! | |
| If that you sleep, I humbly you require | 5 |
| Forbear awhile, and let your rigour slake, | |
| Since that by you I burn thus in this fire; | |
| To hear my plaint, dear heart, awake! awake! | |
| Since that so oft ye have made me to wake | |
| In plaint, and tears, and in right piteous case; | 10 |
| Displease you not if force do now me make | |
| To break your sleep, crying alas! alas! | |
| It is the last trouble that ye shall have | |
| Of me, Madam, to hear my last complaint; | |
| Pity at least your poor unhappy slave, | 15 |
| For in despair, alas! I faint, I faint. | |
| It is not now, but long and long ago | |
| I have you served, as to my power and might | |
| As faithfully as any man might do; | |
| Claiming of you nothing of right, of right. | 20 |
| Save of your grace only to stay my life | |
| That fleeth as fast as cloud before the wind; | |
| For since that first I entered in this strife, | |
| An inward death hath fret my mind, my mind. | |
| If I had suffered this to you unware | 25 |
| Mine were the fault, and you nothing to blame; | |
| But since you know my woe and all my care, | |
| Why do I die, alas! for shame! for shame! | |
| I know right well my face, my look, my tears, | |
| Mine eyes, my words, and eke my dreary chere | 30 |
| Have cried my death full oft unto your ears; | |
| Hard of belief it doth appear, appear. | |
| A better proof I see that ye would have; | |
| How I am dead, therefore, when ye hear tell | |
| Believe it not, although ye see my grave; | 35 |
| Cruel! unkind! I say farewell! farewell! | |
| |
