He sighed, till Sorrow seemed itself to mourn;

He wept till tears like ysacles [icicles] did part,

He pitied so, that pity, hate did scorn.

He read to sigh, and weep for pity's sake;

The less he read, the less his heart did quake.

At length resolved, he up the writing takes

And to the Ladies travails as with child;

The birth was Love, such love as discord makes,

The midwife Patience; thus in words full mild,

He writ with tears that which with blood was writ;