Where liking growes of lust,
it cannot long endure:
But where we finde it graft on loue,
there frendships force is sure.
Where wealth procures good wil,
when substance slides away,
There fancy alters all by fittes,
and true loue doth decay
Where beutie bindes the band,
and feature forceth loue,
With crooked age or changed face,
their frendship doth remoue.
No one of these (my deare)
that sickle thus doe fade:
Did bend my brest, or forst thy frend
to follow Cupids trade
But meere good wil in deede
not graft on hope of gaine:
I lovde without regard of lust,
as proofe hath taught you plaine:
I way no wauering wealth,
I force not of thy face:
No graunt of pleasure prickes me on
thy person to embrace.
No hope of after hap
ingenders my good wil:
I lovde thee when I saw thee first,
and so I loue thee stil
Wherefore requite with care
the man that meanes you so:
It lies in you to yeld him ease,
or plague his hart with woe.
You were not bred of rockes,
no marble was your meate:
I trust I shal so good a dame,
to loue me best intreate
You know I beare the blame,
your selfe are nothing free:
He loues me not for louing you,
nor you for louing me.
Consider of the case,
and like where you are lovde:
It is against your kinde to please
where you are so reprovde.
His frendship is in doubt,
you stand assured of me:
He hates vs both, I cannot loue
the man that hateth thee.
His frantike words of late,
bewraide his folly plaine:
Assure yourselfe he loues you not,
his glosing is for gaine.
Which purpose being brought
to his desired passe,
The sotte will shew himselfe a beast,
and prooue a wayward Asse.
By reason rule his rage,
by wisdome master wil:
Embrace your frend in spite of him,
that meanes you no good wil.
A time in time may come,
if gods wil haue it so,
When we each other shal inioy,
to quite each others woe.
Which time if time agree,
to pleasure vs withall,
Our honie wil the sweeter seeme
that we haue tasted gall.
Till when vse womans wit,
therein you know my minde:
I neuer was, nor neuer wil
be found your frend vnkinde