I abide and abide and better abide,
 And after the old proverb, the happy day;
 And ever my lady to me doth say,
 "Let me alone and I will provide."
 I abide and abide and tarry the tide,
 And with abiding speed well ye may.
 Thus do I abide I wot alway,
 Nother obtaining nor yet denied.
 Ay me! this long abiding
 Seemeth to me, as who sayeth,
 A prolonging of a dying death,
 Or a refusing of a desir'd thing.
 Much were it better for to be plain
 Than to say "abide" and yet shall not obtain.