1 If love now reigned as it hath been
2 And were rewarded as it hath sin, 

3 Noble men then would sure ensearch
4 All ways whereby they might it reach, 

5 But envy reigneth with such disdain
6 And causeth lovers outwardly to refrain, 

7 Which puts them to more and more
8 Inwardly most grievous and sore. 

9 The fault in whom I cannot set, 
10 But let them tell which love doth get-- 

11 To lovers I put now sure this case: 
12 Which of their loves doth get them grace? 

13 And unto them which doth it know
14 Better than do I, I think it so.