University of Virginia Library

To my mishap alas I fynde

when aduersitie is once fallen, it is to late to beware.

To my mishap alas I fynde
That happy hap is daungerous:
And fortune worketh but her kynd
To make the ioyfull dolorous.

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Y4v

But all to late it comes to minde,
To waile the want that makes me blinde,
Amid my mirth and pleasantnesse,
Such chaunce is chaunced sodainly,
That in dispaire without redresse,
I finde my chiefest remedy.
No new kinde of vnhappinesse,
Should thus haue left me comfortlesse.
Who wold haue thought that my request,
Should bring me forth such bitter frute:
But now is hapt that I feard lest,
And all this harme comes by my sute,
For when I thought me happiest,
Euen then hapt all my chiefe vnrest.
In better case was neuer none
And yet vnwares thus am I trapt,
My chiefe desire doth cause me mone,
And to my harme my welth is hapt,
There is no man but I alone,
That hath such cause to sigh and mone.
Thus am I taught for to beware
And trust no more such pleasant chance,
My happy happe bred me this care,
And brought my mirth to great mischance.
There is no man whom happe will spare,
But when she list his welth is bare.