| |
| MY pen! take pain a little space | |
| To follow that which doth me chase, | |
| And hath in hold my heart so sore; | |
| But when thou hast this brought to pass, | |
| My pen! I prithee write no more. | 5 |
| Remember oft thou hast me eased, | |
| And all my pains full well appeased, | |
| But now I know, unknown before, | |
| For where I trust, I am deceived; | |
| And yet, my pen! thou can’st no more. | 10 |
| A time thou haddest as other have | |
| To write which way my hope to crave; | |
| That time is past, withdraw, therefore: | |
| Since we do lose that others have, | |
| As good leave off and write no more. | 15 |
| In worth to use another way; | |
| Not as we would, but as we may, | |
| For once my loss is past restore, | |
| And my desire is my decay; | |
| My pen! yet write a little more. | 20 |
| To love in vain, who ever shall | |
| Of worldly pain it passeth all, | |
| As in like case I find; wherefore | |
| To hold so fast, and yet to fall! | |
| Alas! my pen, now write no more. | 25 |
| Since thou hast taken pain this space | |
| To follow that which doth me chace, | |
| And hath in hold my heart so sore, | |
| Now hast thou brought my mind to pass, | |
| My pen! I prithee write no more. | 30 |
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