A she there was that passed betwixt us both,
By whom each knew how other's cause did fare;
For men to trust men in their love are loth;
Thus had we both of love a lover's care.
Haply he seeks his sorrows to renew,
That for his love doth make another sue.
By her a kiss, a kiss to me she sent.
A kiss for price more worth than purest gold.
She gave it her, to me the kiss was meant;
A she to kiss, what harm if she were bold?
Happy those lips that had so sweet a kiss,
For heaven itself scarce yields so sweet a bliss!
This modest she, blushing for shame of this,
Or loth to part from that she liked so well,
Did play false play, and gave me not the kiss;
Yet my love's kindness could not choose to tell.
Then blame me not, that kissing sighed and swore
I kissed but her whom you had kissed before.
Sweet, love me more, and blame me not, sweet love;
I kissed those lips, yet harmless I do vow;
Scarce would my lips from off those lips remove,
For still methought, sweet fair, I kissèd you.
And thus, kind love, the sum of all my bliss
Was but begun and ended in a kiss.
Then send me more, but send them by your friend;
Kiss none but her, nor her, nor none at all.
Beware by whom such treasures you do send,
I must them lose except I for them call.
And love me, dear, and still still kissing be;
Both like and love, but none, sweet love, but me.
III
If sad complaint would show a lover's pain,
Or tears express the torments of my heart,
If melting sighs would ruth and pity gain,
Or true laments but ease a lover's smart;
Then should my plaints the thunder's noise surmount,
And tears like seas should flow from out my eyes;
Then sighs like air should far exceed all count,
And true laments with sorrow dim the skies.
But plaints and tears, laments and sighs I spend,
Yet greater torments do my heart destroy;
I could all these from out my heart still send,
If after these I might my love enjoy.