| |
| TO wish, and want, and not obtain; | |
| To seek and sue ease of my pain, | |
| Since all that ever I do is vain, | |
| What may it avail me! | |
| Although I strive both day and hour | 5 |
| Against the stream, with all my power, | |
| If Fortune list yet for to lower, | |
| What may it avail me! | |
| If willingly I suffer woe; | |
| If from the fire me list not go; | 10 |
| If then I burn to plain me so, | |
| What may it avail me! | |
| And if the harm that I suffer, | |
| Be run too far out of measure, | |
| To seek for help any further, | 15 |
| What may it avail me! | |
| What tho’ each heart that heareth me plain, | |
| Pitieth and plaineth for my pain; | |
| If I no less in grief remain, | |
| What may it avail me! | 20 |
| Yea! though the want of my relief | |
| Displease the causer of my grief; | |
| Since I remain still in mischief, | |
| What may it avail me! | |
| Such cruel chance doth so me threat | 25 |
| Continually inward to freat, | |
| Then of release for to treat; | |
| What may it avail me! | |
| Fortune is deaf unto my call; | |
| My torment moveth her not at all; | 30 |
| And though she turn as doth a ball, | |
| What may it avail me! | |
| For in despair there is no rede; | |
| To want of ear, speech is no speed; | |
| To linger still alive as dead, | 35 |
| What may it avail me! | |
| |
