“Your fearful hope cannot prevail”

YOUR fearful hope cannot prevail;

Nor yet faithful trust also.

Some thinks to hit, ofttimes do fail;

Whereby they change their wealth to woe.

What though! in that yet put no trust:

But always after as ye see.

For say your will, and do your lust;

There is no place for you to be.

No such within; ye are far out.

Your labour lost ye hope to save.

But once I put ye out of doubt;

The thing is had that ye would have.

Though to remain without remorse,

And pitiless to be opprest;

Yet is the course of Love, by force

To take all things unto the best.

Well! yet beware, if thou be wise:

And leave thy hope thy heat to cool:

For fear lest she thy love despise,

Reputing thee but as a fool.

Since this to follow of force thou must,

And by no reason can refrain;

Thy chance shall change thy least mistrust;

As thou shalt prove unto thy pain.

When with such pain thou shalt be paid,

The which shall pass all remedy;

Then think on this that I have said;

And blame thy foolish Fantasy.

FINIS.