[Confidence.] I seek and seek, as one on no ground
Can rest; but, like a masterless hound,
Wandering all about seeking his master.
Alas, gentle Wit! I fear the faster
That my true service cleaveth unto thee,
The slacker thy mind cleaveth unto me;
I have done thy message, in such sort,
That I not only, for thy comfort,
To vanquish thine enemy have brought here
A sword of comfort from thy love dear;
But also, further, I have so inclined her
That, upon my words, she hath assigned her,
In her own person, half-way to meet thee:
And, hitherward, she came for to greet thee.
And sure, except she be turned again,
Hither will she come or be long, plain,
To seek to meet thee here in this coast.
But now, alas! thyself thou hast lost;
Or, at the least, thou wilt not be found.
Alas! gentle Wit, how dost thou wound
Thy trusty and true servant, Confidence,
To lese my credence to Lady Science?
Thou lesest me, too; for if I cannot
Find thee shortly, longer live I may not;
But shortly get me even into a corner
And die for sorrow through such a scorner! [Exit.
Here they [Fame, Favour, Riches, and Worship] come in with viols.
Fame. Come, sirs! let us not disdain to do
That the World hath appointed us to.
Favour. Since, to serve Science, the World hath sent us,
As the World willeth us, let us content us.
Riches. Content us we may, since we be assigned
To the fairest lady that liveth, in my mind!
Worship. Then, let us not stay here mute and mum;
But taste we these instruments till she come.
Here the[y] sing "Exceeding Measure."
Exceeding measure, with pains continual,
Languishing in absence, alas! what shall I do?
Unfortunate wretch! devoid of joys all,
Sighs upon sighs redoubling my woe;
And tears down falling from mine eyes too.
Beauty with truth so doth me constrain
Ever to serve where I may not attain!
Truth bindeth me ever to be true,
Howso that fortune favoureth my chance.
During my life none other but you
Of my true heart shall have the governance!
O, good sweet heart! have you remembrance
Now, of your own, which for no smart
Exile shall you from my true heart!