[What, shall I write some prety toy?]
The next day after that he had written
this passion of Loue, dyuers Gentlewomen
being then in the house: he
was intreted by two or three of them at
once, to make some verses: and one
among the rest, being very desirous to
haue her request fulfilled, brought him
a Pen, and ynke, and Paper: with
earnest intreaty, to make some verses,
upon what matter he thought best himselfe:
he, very vnwilling to write, not
knowing of a sodain, how to please
them all in vearse, and yet desirous to
graunt all their requests, with much
adooe, was in the end intreated to
write, as followeth.
What, shall I write some prety toy?
will that like Ladies best?
Or shall I pen the praise of one
faire Dame, abooue the rest?
Or shall I write at randon else,
what fyrst comes in my braine?
No, no: for words once flowen abroade,
can not be cald againe.
Why then, since none of these will serue,
what other kinde of stile,
Shall I picke out to write upon?—
now sure, I needes must smile,
To thinke vpon my beetle brain,
that can no fruite bring foorth:
But such Baldictum rimes as these,
as are not reading worth.
Faith, Ladyes, but for shame, I would
not write one word at all,
In ryme (at least) because you see,
my reason is so small.
But since it is such as it is,
indeede small and too small:
I must desyre you, for this once,
to stand content withall.
And take the same in as good parte,
as if a wiser man
Had better done: because you see,
I do the best I can.
And more then can, you can not craue:
for if you do of me,
Before you aske, be sure to go
without, I promise ye:
But any thyng that well I can,
commaund you all of me:
And I wyll do the best I can,
to please each one of ye:
And thus, as humbly as I can,
I craue of you to lend
Your pacience to my rudenesse this:
and so I make an ende.
Full sory that I cannot write,
so finely as I would,
To like your fancies all alyke,
for if I could I would:
And so agayne, fayre Ladies all,
in curteous sort I craue,
As I deserue your favours so,
and friendshyps, let me haue.
