| Sad was her joy: | her joy that was not sad. |
| Short was her stay: | her stay that was not short. |
| Glad was her speech: | her speech that was not glad. |
| Sporting those toys: | those toys that were not sport. |
Thus was my heart, with joy, speech, toys, and stay,
Possessed with love; and so stolen quite away.
| Sad was her joy: | because she did suspect. |
| Not sad her joy: | because her joy she had. |
| Short was her stay: | because to small effect. |
| Long was her stay: | because I was so sad. |
Thus joy and stay both crossed a lover's sport;
The one was sad, the other too too short.
| Glad was her speech: | because she spake her mind. |
| Not glad her speech: | because afraid to speak. |
| Sporting her toys: | because my love was kind. |
| Not toys in sport: | because my heart they break. |
Thus speech and toys my love began in jest:
Sweet, yield to love! and make thy servant blest!
Tread you the Maze, sweet Love, that I have run: Mark but the steps, which I imprinted have. End but your love, whereas my thoughts begun: So shall I joy, and you a Servant have. If not, sweet Love, then this my suit deny: So shall you live, and so your Servant die.