University of Virginia Library

If it were so that God

The louer sheweth what he would haue if it were graunted him to haue what he would wishe.

If it were so that God would graunt me my request,
And that I might of earthly thinges haue [that] I liked best.
I would not wishe to clime to princely hye astate,
which slipper is and slides so oft, and hath so fickle fate.
Nor yet to conquere realmes with cruell sworde in hande,
And so to shede the giltlesse bloude of such as would withstand.
Nor I would not desire in worldly rule to raigne,
Whose frute is all vnquietnesse, and breakyng of the braine.
Nor richesse in excesse of vertue so abhorde,
I would not craue which bredeth care and causeth all discorde.
But my request should be more worth a thousand folde:
That I might haue and her enioye that hath my hart in holde.
Oh God what lusty life should we liue then for euer,
In pleasant ioy and perfect blisse, to length our liues together.
With wordes of frendlye chere, and lokes of liuely loue,
To vtter all our hotte desires, which neuer should remoue.

---

Y2v

But grose and gredie wittes which grope but on the ground.
To gather muck of worldly goodes which oft do them confounde.
Can not attaine to knowe the misteries deuine
Of perfite loue wherto hie wittes of knowledge do incline
A nigard of his gold suche ioye can neuer haue
which gettes w[ith] toile and kepes with care and is his money slaue.
As they enioy alwayes that taste loue in his kinde,
For they do holde continually a heauen in their minde.
No worldly goodes could bring my hart so great an ease,
As for to finde or do the thing that might my ladye please.
For by her onely loue my hart should haue all ioye,
And with the same put care away, and all that coulde annoy.
As if that any thyng shold chance to make me sadde,
The touching of her corall lippes would straighteways make me gladde,

[_]

1 from following line

And when that in my heart I fele that dyd me greue
With one imbracing of her armes she might me sone releue:
And as the Angels all which sit in heauen hye
With presence and the sight of god haue theyr felicitie.
So lykewyse I in earth, should haue all earthly blis,
With presence of that paragon, my god in earth that is.