[Though yesterday I brake my word]
A Gentleman hauing made promise unto
his Mistresse to come unto her vpon
a certaine appointed day, to doo her
seruice, brake promise with her: but
the next day following, thinking her
haste [not] of necessitie so great but
then he might come soone inough to
accomplishe such matters as he was
wonte to doo, came: and confessing
his faulte of breache of promise, professing
it against his will, shewing his
earnest desire of more haste, craued
pardon and recoverie of credit lost, in
verse as followeth.
Though yesterday I brake my word,
& therby purchasde blame:
Yet now to day, as you may see,
I come to keepe the same.
And though this be not halfe inough
my fault to counteruaile:
Yet do not you my word mistrust,
though once my promise faile.
For if ye knew the urgent cause
that kept me so away,
And therewith saw mine earnest haste
to come againe this day,
For to recouer credite lost:
I doo my selfe assure,
With little sute I should ywis,
your pardon soon procure.
Well, to be shorte, I hope no hart
is of such crueltie,
But that, in an offender, will
regard humilitie.
And since that noble Ladies all
are pittifull by kinde,
Let some remorce, good Lady mine,
take roote within your minde.
And doo not me, your seruaunt poore,
for one small fault disdaine:
But let me, by my due desarte,
your fauour get againe.
And though yt once I brake my word,
in matters of small weight:
Yet thinke not, therefore, otherwise
in me to rest deceight.
For in a case of credit, loe,
wherein my worde I giue,
If that I shrinke or eate my word,
then God let me not liue:
And if in me to doo you good,
by worde or deede, it rest;
Vnto my power, I solemne vow
doo make, to doo my best.
