The curtesies yee haue to me profest,
The bounty great that doth from you proceed,
Woulde make me deeme that day to be most blest,
In which I might stand you in any steede:
When if I flinch, cry on me open shame,
And where you come, doe bafful my good name.
If yee doe muse that I but now begin,
For to expresse that heart hath long concealde,
Assure your selfe, my secrete thought within,
So pricke me foorth, it needes must be reuealde.
And eke desire doth bid me let you know:
The loyall zeale, and duety that I owe.
As I confesse there is not in me ought,
To answeare that my Velle would fulfill,
So (make account) right farre hee must be sought,
That doth surmount or passe me in goodwill.
Which as in wordes I haue geuen out to some.
My deedes shal try, if once occasion come.
A crew there are, whose nature is to gloze
And vaunt in words, when heart thinks nothing lesse,
Assure your selfe, that I am none of those,
But will performe, what here I doe professe.
If that I think, when you haue cause to rid me
Doe cast me off, and vtterly denie me.
Of fortunes giftes since slender is my part,
Take here in signe of happy yeere at hand,
These ragged lines true herauldes of my heart
By which yee may my meaning vnderstand,
Their maister hath geuen them in charge to tel,
When he would worst, yt hee doth wish you wel.