A sweet Sonnet, wherein the Lover exclaimeth against
Fortune for the loss of his Ladies Favour, almost past hope to get it again, and in the
end receives a comfortable answer, and attains his desire, as may here appear.
The Tune is, Fortune my Foe.
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The Lovers Complaint for the loss of his Love.
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FOrtune my Foe why dost thou frown on me?
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And will thy favours never better he?
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Wilt thou I say forever breed my pain,
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And wilt thou not restore my joys again.
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Fortune hath wrought my grief & great annoy,
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Fortune hath falsly stoln my Love away,
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My love and joy whose sight did make me glad,
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Such great misfortunes never young man had.
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Had Fortune took my treasure and my store,
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Fortune had never griev'd me half so sore,
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But taking her whereon my heart did stay,
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Fortune thereby hath took my life away.
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Far worse than death my life I lead in woe,
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With b[i]tter thoughts still tossed too and fro,
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O cruel Chance thou breeder of my pain,
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Take life, or else restore my love again.
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In vain I sigh, in vain I wail and weep,
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In vain mine eyes refrain from quiet sleep,
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In vain I shed my tears both night and day,
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In vain my love my sorrows do bewray.
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My love doth not my piteous plaint espy,
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Nor feels my love what griping grief I try:
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Full well may I false fortunes deeds reprove
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Fortune that so unkindly keeps my love.
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Where should I seek or search my love to find,
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When fortune fleets and wavers as the wind:
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Sometimes aloft, sometimes again below,
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Thus tottering fortune tottereth too and fro.
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Then will I leave my love in fortunes hands,
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My dearest love in most unconstant bands,
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And only serve the sorrows due to me,
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Sorrow hereafter thou shalt my Mistriss be.
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And only joy, that sometimes conquers Kings,
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Fortune that rules on earth, & earthly things,
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So that alone I live not in this wo,
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For many more hath fortune served so.
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No man alive can fortunes spight withstand,
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With wisdom, skill, or mighty strength of hand
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In midst of mirth she bringeth bitter moan,
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And woe to me that hath her hatred known.
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If wisdoms eyes blind fortune had but seen,
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Then had my Love, my Love, for ever been:
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Then love farewel, though fortune favour thee,
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No fortune frail shall ever conquer me.
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The Ladies Comfortable and pleasant Answer.
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AH silly soul, art thou so sore afraid?
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Mourn not my dear, nor be not so dismaid,
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Fortune cannot with all her power and skill,
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Enforce my heart to think thee any ill.
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Blame not thy chance, nor envy at thy choice,
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No cause thou hast to curse but to rejoyce,
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Fortune shall not thy joy and love deprive,
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If by my love it may remain alive.
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Receive therefore thy life again to thee,
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Thy life and love shall not be lost by me;
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And while thy heart upon thy life do stay,
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Fortune shall never steal the same away.
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Live thou in bliss, and banish death to Hell,
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All careful thoughts see thou from thee expel;
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As thou doth wish, thy love agrees to be,
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For proof whereof behold I come to thee.
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In vain therefore do neither wail nor weep,
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In vain therefore break not thy quiet sleep,
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Waste not in vain thy time in sorrow so,
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For why thy love delights to ease thy woe.
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Full well thy love thy privy pangs doth see,
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And soon thy love will send to succour thee,
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tho well thou mayst false fortunes deeds reprove
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Yet cannot fortune keep away thy love.
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Nor will thy love on fortunes back abide,
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Whose fickle wheel doth often slip aside,
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And never think that fortune beareth sway,
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If vertue watch, and will not her obey.
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Pluck up thy heart, supprest with brinish tears,
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Torment me not, but take away thy fears;
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Thy Mistriss mind brooks no unconstant bands
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Much less to live in ruling fortunes hands.
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Though mighty Kings by fortune get the soil,
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Loosing thereby their travel and their toyl;
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Though fortune be to them a cruel foe,
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Fortune shall not make me to serve thee so.
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For fortunes spight thou needst not care a pin,
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For thou thereby shall never loose nor win;
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If faithful love and favour I do find,
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My recompence shall not remain behind.
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Die not in fear, nor live in discontent,
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Be thou not slain, where never blood was meant,
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Revive again, to faint thou hast no need,
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The less afraid, the better thou shalt speed.
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