Classic Poem

As power and wit will me assist,
My will shall will even as ye list.

For as ye list my will is bent
In everything to be content,
To serve in love till life be spent;
So you reward my love thus meant,
Even as ye list.

To feign or fable is not my mind,
Nor to refuse such as I find,
But as a lamb of humble kind
Or bird in cage, to be assign'd
Even as ye list.

When all the flock is come and gone,
Mine eye and heart, agreeth in one,
Hath chosen you, only, alone,
To be my joy, or else my moan,
Even as ye list.

Joy if pity appear in place,
Moan if disdain do show his face,
Yet crave I not, as in this case,
But as ye lead to follow the trace
Even as ye list.

Some in words much love can feign,
And some for words give words again:
Thus words for words in words remain,
And yet at last words do obtain
Even as ye list.
To crave in words I will eschew,
And love in deed I will ensue;
It is my mind both whole and true,
And for my truth I pray you rue
Even as ye list.

Dear heart, I bid your heart farewell,
With better heart than tongue can tell;
Yet take this tale, as true as gospel,
Ye may my life save or expel
Even as ye list.