Sweet Kate

Sweet Kate of late ran away and left me plaining:

"Te-he-he" quoth she, "gladly would I see any man to die with loving!"

"Abide!" I cried, "or I die with thy disdaining".

"Never any yet died of such a fit; neither have I fear of proving!"

Unkind! I find thy delight is in tormenting:

"Abide!" I cried, "or I die with thy consenting".

"Te-he-he" quoth she, "make no fool of me!

Men I know have oath at pleasure;

but their hopes attain'd, they bewray they feign'd,

and their oaths are kept at leisure".

Her words, like swords, cut my sorry heart in sunder:

Het flouts with doubts kept my heart's affections under.

"Te-he-he" quoth she, "what a fool is he stands in awe of once denying!"

Cause I had enough to become more rough: so I did. O happy trying!