The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton For the First Time Collected and Edited: With Memorial-Introduction, Notes and Illustrations, Glossarial Index, Facsimilies, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In Two Volumes |
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 | The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton |  |
24. [Dead Hopes.]
Yf heavne and earthe were bothe not fullie benteTo plauge a wretch with an Infernall payne;
To robbe the harte of all his hie contente
And leave a wounde that sholde not heale againe.
Yf cruell fortune did not seeke to kill
The carfull spiritt of my kinde affecte;
And care did not so crucifie me still
That loue had lefte no hope of his effecte.
Yf she whom most my hart hath ouerlovde
Were not vnkind in care of my distres;
And she by whom my greif might be removde
Did not hold backe the meane of my redres;
If all these thoughtes and manie thousande moe
To longe to tell, to deadlie to endure;
Did not consume my hart in sorrowe soe,
That care hath lefte no hope of any cure;
Then might I yet amidd my greatest greif
Perswade my pacience with some heavnly powre,
That when I most despaire of my releif
My hopeles harte might find some happie howre;
But since that Fortune so doth frowne vpon me
That care hath thus of comfortes all berefte me;
Thinke it not straunge to see me woe begone me,
When no good hope of no good happ is left me;
And since I see all kindnes so vnkinde,
And freindship growne to suche contrary thought;
And suche a thought the torment of the minde,
That care and sorrow hath consumde to nought;
I will resolue (thoughe pacience he p'force)
To sitt me downe and thus in secrett crye;
Dead is my harte, oh earth receiue my corse,
Heavne be my lif for in the worlde I dye.
Finis.
| The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton | |