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THEY flee
from me that sometime did me seek,
With naked foot
stalking within my chamber:
Once have I seen them
gentle, tame, and meek,
That now are wild, and do
not once remember
That sometime they have put
themselves in danger
To take bread at my hand; and
now they range,
Busily seeking in continual change.
Thanked be fortune, it hath been otherwise
Twenty times better; but once especial--
In thin
array: after a pleasant guise,
When her loose gown
did from her shoulders fall,
And she me caught in
her arms long and small,
And therewithal so sweetly
did me kiss,
And softly said, 'Dear heart, how like
you this?'
It was no dream; for I lay broad
awaking:
But all is turn'd now, through my
gentleness,
Into a bitter fashion of forsaking;
And I have leave to go of her goodness;
And she also
to use new-fangleness.
But since that I unkindly so
am served,
'How like you this?'--what hath she now
deserved?
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