Classic Poem

Yf ever I doe tribute yeelde agayne
to your false love that sometymes raignd in me
Then wish I still in bondage to remayne
and my rewarde for love myght rygor bee
And when I mone and waile my fonde desyre
that by my teares I may encrease my fire

Or yf agayne your flattringe face prevayle
to houlde my mynde conceyted with such toyes
Then lett my thoughts their purpose ever faile
and my deepe sighes increase your wanton joyes
That I may blushe when I doo heare your name
yett still delyghte to call uppon the same

That my bleam face and my consumed eyne
with cares forespente, may horror breed to me
And that the sunne disdayne on me to shyne
and death refuse from woes to sett me free
And in this lyfe lett eche thynge mee displease
That I can wishe to yeld my fancye ease

But yf this vowe unvyolate I holde
and that her looks in me noe place may take
Ye gods to whom I do my plaints unfolde
vouchafe to heare the humble suite I make
And thow (oh love) to whom I true am sworne
On her be vengde, that laughes thy lawes to scorne:

And lett her lyve and lynger on her tyme
tyll stoopinge adge uppon her lymmes do cease
And pluck from her this pryde and youthlye pryme
and dymme those eyes which did ech gaser please
And chaunge those locks into some hoary hewe
And quaile those cheeks whereon to thinke I rewe

And when Shee sees her selfe so wrackte with age
and farr unlyke to that before Shee was
Lo then as one afright, twixte griefe and rage
even with her fyste shall breake her flattringe glase
And ever after loath thereon to looke
Wherein before such greate delighte Shee tooke

Then will I free from hope, dispayre, and love,
make sporte att her as Shee doth now att mee
And theyrwithall theise vaine delights reprove
and blesse the tyme that soo hath sett me free
And yeelde due thanks to honored age withall
That taughte me witt, and gave her pride a fall.