721Against that time, if ever that time come,

722When I shall see thee frown on my defects;

723Whenas thy love hath cast his utmost sum,

724Called to that audit by advised respects;

725Against that time when thou shalt strangely pass,

726And scarcely greet me with that sun, thine eye,

727When love, converted from the thing it was,

728Shall reasons find of settled gravity;

729Against that time do I ensconce me here,

730Within the knowledge of mine own desert,

731And this my hand against myself uprear,

732To guard the lawful reasons on thy part.

733 To leave poor me, thou hast the strength of laws,

734 Since why to love, I can allege no cause.

736How heavy do I journey on the way

737When what I seek, my weary travel's end,

738Doth teach that ease and that repose to say,

739"Thus far the miles are measured from thy friend."

740The beast that bears me, tired with my woe,

741Plods dully on to bear that weight in me,

742As if by some instinct the wretch did know

743His rider loved not speed being made from thee.

744The bloody spur cannot provoke him on

745That sometimes anger thrusts into his hide,

746Which heavily he answers with a groan,

747More sharp to me than spurring to his side,

748 For that same groan doth put this in my mind:

749 My grief lies onward and my joy behind.

751Thus can my love excuse the slow offence

752Of my dull bearer, when from thee I speed:

753From where thou art, why should I haste me thence?

754Till I return, of posting is no need.

755Oh, what excuse will my poor beast then find,

756When swift extremity can seem but slow?

757Then should I spur, though mounted on the wind;

758In winged speed no motion shall I know;

759Then can no horse with my desire keep pace;

760Therefore desire, of perfect'st love being made,

761Shall weigh no dull flesh in his fiery race,

762But love, for love, thus shall excuse my jade:

763 Since from thee going he went wilful-slow,

764 Towards thee I'll run, and give him leave to go.