Classic Poem

As many are the meanes,
to fall in fancies frame:
So diuers be the driftes of men,
for to atchieue the same.
For some to winne their loues,
and purchase priuy grace:
With curious tonges like carpet knights
doe pleade a fained case.
And all to please the eares,
and mate their mistresse minde:
Of this and that they tell their tales,
as they fit leasure finde
Some other wanting chatte,
not hauing words at wil:
With nimble ioynts, and fingering fine,
on Lutes doe shew their skil.
By sugred sound to winne
their ladies to their loue:
With earnest care those wanton wights,
Apollos practise proue.
And such as skilfull are,
in daunsing doe desire
To practise that whereby to set
their fronions harts on fire.
Whose breast is sweete to eare,
he straines his voice to sing:
Thereby vnto his greedy lust
his mistresse minde to bring.
The martial man at armes,
to muster doth delight:
And loues to shew his helmed head
before his Ladies sight
In hope to purchase praise,
and after praise some grace:
For women loue a valiant man
that dares defend their case.
Thus each one doth attempt,
and puts the thing in vre,
That sittest is to gaine good will,
so Faulkners vse the lure
But I, vnhappy wight,
that can doe nought of these:
How might I doe, or what deuise
my mistresse minde to please?
Where neither tongue can talke
nor singer frame with Lute:
Nor footing serue to daunce: alas,
how should I moue my sute?
Not pleasant is my voice,
vnable to delight:
I can doe nought vnlesse it be
with pen to shew my plight
I only can in verse,
set out a dame to show:
And on a wel deseruing frend,
a frendly praise bestow.
Thus must I hunt for loue,
wherefore (good Lady) then
In lieu of other siner skilles,
accept my ragged pen
Let me by writing win,
what others doe by arte:
And during life you shal assure,
you of a louing hart.
No vertue shalbe lodgde
within your curteous brest:
But I wil blaze the same abroad,
as brauely as the best.
And as for beuties praise,
I wil procure that fame
Shal sound it out so loud, that all
the world shal read thy name.
So as by louing me,
you shal haue loue againe:
And eke the harts of thousands mo
for you good wil attaine.
I neuer was mine owne
sith first. I sawe your face:
Nor neuer wil, but euer yours,
if you wil rue my case.