Why when, Perseda? wilt thou not assure me, But shall I, like a mastless ship at sea, Go ev'ry way, and not the way I would? My love hath lasted from mine infancy, And still increased, as I grew myself. When did Perseda pastime in the streets, But her Erastus over-ey'd her sport? When didst thou, with thy sampler in the sun, Sit sewing with thy pheers, but I was by, Marking thy lily hand's dexterity; Comparing it to twenty gracious things? When didst thou sing a note that I could hear, But I have fram'd a ditty to the tune, Figuring Perseda twenty kind of ways? When didst thou go to church on holidays, But I have waited on thee to and fro, Marking my times, as falcons watch their flight? When I have miss'd thee, how I have lamented, As if my thoughts had been assured true! Thus in my youth; now, since I grew a man, I have persevered to let thee know The meaning of my true heart's constancy, Then be not nice, Perseda, as women wont To hasty lovers, whose fancy soon is fled; My love is of a long continuance, And merits not a stranger's recompense. PERSEDA. Enough, Erastus, thy Perseda knows; She whom thou wouldst have thine, Erastus, knows. ERASTUS. Nay, my Perseda knows, and then 'tis well. PERSEDA. Ay, watch you[r] vantages? thine be it then-- I have forgot the rest, but that's th' effect; Which to effect, accept this carcanet: My grandam on her deathbed gave it me, And there, ev'n there, I vow'd unto myself To keep the same, until my wand'ring eye Should find a harbour for my heart to dwell. Ev'n in thy breast do I elect my rest; Let in my heart to keep thine company. ERASTUS.