_A Love Letter sent from a faithful Lover,
to an unconstant Maiden._
AS duty wills, so Nature moves
thy friend these lines to write
Wherein thy fraud, O faithless Thou!
I mind to bring to light.
Can plightèd faith, so firmly plight,
without desert be moved?
Or should the man that faithful is,
so slenderly be loved?
Should hate his guerdon thus remain
in place of thy goodwill?
Should rigour reign within thy breast,
to vanquish reason's skill?
Should faith, to falsehood so be changed?
alas, the greater ruth,
When double dealing is preferred
before the perfect truth!
If case such hap as recompense
unto your friend you yield,
What bulwark canst thou claim
'gainst GOD thyself to shield?
Can they that sit in hau[gh]ty heavens,
such covert guilt abide?
Or are they partial now, deemst thou?
is Justice thrown aside?
Nay, just are they, and justice still,
as just, they justly use:
And unto them, as guiltless then,
canst thou thyself excuse?
No, no; not so, for they behold
thy double deeds, be sure!
No forgèd style, nor flatt'ring phrase,
their favour may allure.
No gifts, no gold, can them corrupt;
such justice there doth reign:
And they that disobey their 'hests,
are subject unto pain.
These are no novel news I tell,
the proof is plainly known:
To such as do offend their wills,
their power forth is shown.
They see thy conscience guilty is;
thy faithless fraud they see:
And think'st thou then, this guilt of thine
can unrewarded be?
O FAITH, think not so far to wish
from reason's limits pure!
But judge thyself, what justice they
to sinful ones inure.
And thyself such doom shall give,
as guilty shalt thou find:
Therefore relent, and once again
thy grudging conscience mind!
Which unto gods that sacrèd are,
as guilty thee bewray.
In place of fraud, let faith and truth
with thee now bear the sway!
Revoke and call to memory
the fruits of friendship shown!
Perpend in mind my torments strong,
my plaints and pensive moan!
Which, six long years, as passionate
to carping yoke of care,
I 'bode for thee, as thou thyself,
I know, canst well declare.
Remember thou the plaints and tears
which I poured forth for thee!
And ponder well the sacred vow
that thou hast made to me!
Which vow gave comfort to thy friend,
that subject served to grief:
Thou gavest thyself a pledge to me!
Thy faith was my relief!
But now what hellish hag, alas,
hath turned thy love to hate?
Or else what whelp of HYDRA's kind
in thee hath wrought debate?
Alas, wilt thou despoil me quite
of my possessèd joy?
Or wilt thou plunge me headlong thus
to gulfs of great annoy?
Who would a [_have_] thought alas,
such fraud to rest in thee?
Who would have deemed, without desert
thy heart should change from me?
Whose heart hath couched his tent
within my covert breast
And thine, I hoped, of me thy friend
likewise had been possesst.
But wavering minds, I plainly see,
so compassèd with guile,
Pretend by sleights, the perfect joys
of friends for to exile.
O should a prattling parasite
so egg thee with disdain;
That thou, the presence of thy friend,
through flattery, shouldst refrain?
Not vouching once to speak with him,
whose heart thou hadst in hold:
Sith Liking fame hath granted grace;
should Love so soon be cold!
Consider these my letters well,
and answer them again!
For I, thy friend in covert zeal,
this time hath closed my pen.
Farewell! Adieu! Ten thousand times
to GOD I thee commend!
Beseeching him his heavenly grace
unto thee still to send!
Thy friend in wealth, thy friend in woe:
Thy friend while life shall flit me fro.
And whilst that you enjoy your breath,
Leave not your friend unto the death!
For greater praise cannot be won
Than to observe True Love begun.