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But all her changes cannot change a steady constant mind.

Though wavering Fortune turn from thee her smiling face,

And Sorrow seek to set himself in banished Pleasure's place,

Yet may thy marred state be mended in a while,

And she eftsoons that frownoth now, with p1easant cheer shall smile,

For as her happy state no long while standeth sure,

Even so the heavy plight she brings, not always doth endure.

What need so many words to thee that art so wise?

Thou better canst advise thyself, than I can thee advise.

Wisdom, I see, is vain, if thus in time of need

A wise man's wit unpractiséd doth stand him in no stede.

I know thou hast some cause of sorrow and of care,

But well I wot thou hast no cause thus franticly to fare.

Affection's foggy mist thy feebled sight doth blind;

But if that reason's beams again might shine into thy mind,

If thou would'st view thy state with an indifferent eye,

I think thou would'st condemn thy plaint, thy sighing, and thy cry.

With valiant hand thou mad'st thy foe yield up his breath,

Thou hast escaped his sword and eke the laws that threaten death.

By thy escape thy friends are fraughted full of joy,

And by his death thy deadly foes are laden with annoy.

Wilt thou with trusty friends of pleasure take some part ?

Or else to please thy hateful foes be partner of their smart ?

Why cry'st thou out on love? Why dost thou blame thy fate?

Why dost thou so cry after death? Thy life why dost thou hate?

Dost thou repent the choice that thou so late didst choose?

Love is thy Lord; thou ought'st obey and not thy prince accuse.

For thou hast found, thou know'st, great favour in his sight.

He granted thee, at thy request, thy only heart's delight.

So that the gods envied the bliss thou lived'st in;

To give to such unthankful men is folly and a sin.

Methinks I hear thee say, the cruel banishment

Is only cause of thy unrest; only thou dost lament

That from thy native land and friends thou must depart,

Enforced to fly from her that hath the keeping of thy heart:

And so oppressed with weight of smart that thou dost feel,

Thou dost complain of Cupid's brand, and Fortune's turning wheel.

Unto a valiant heart there is no banishment,

All countries are his native soil beneath the firmament.

As to the fish the sea, as to the fowl the air,

So is like pleasant to the wise each place of his repair.

Though froward Fortune chase thee hence into exile,

With doubled honour shall she call thee home within a while.

Admit thou should'st abide abroad a year or twain,

Should so short absence cause so long and eke so grievous pain?

Though thou ne may'st thy friends here in Verona see,

They are not banished Mantua, where safely thou may'st be.

Thither they may resort, though thou resort not hither,

And there in surety may you talk of your affairs together.

Yea, but this while, alas, thy Juliet must thou miss,

The only pillar of thy health, and anchor of thy bliss.

Thy heart thou leav'st with her, when thou dost hence depart,

And in thy breast incloséd bear'st her tender friendly heart.

But if thou rue so much to leave the rest behind,

With thought of passéd joys content thy uncontented mind.

So shall the moan decrease wherewith thy mind doth melt,

Compared to the heavenly joys which thou hast often felt.

He is too nice a weakling that shrinketh at a shower,

And he unworthy of the sweet, that tasteth not the sour.

Call now again to mind thy first consuming flame,

How didst thou vainly burn in love of an unloving dame?

Hadst thou not well nigh wept quite out thy swelling eyne

Did not thy parts, fordone with pain, languish away and pine?

Those griefs and others like were haply overpast,

And thou in height of Fortune's wheel well placéd at the last!

From whence thou art now fall'n, that, raiséd up again,

With greater joy a greater while in pleasure may'st thou reign.

Compare the present while with times y-past before,

And think that Fortune hath for thee great pleasure yet in store.

The whilst, this little wrong receive thou patiently,

And what