An Aunswere to his Ladie, that willed him that absence should not breede forgetfulnesse

THough Noble Surrey sayde
that absence woonders frame,
And makes things out of sight forgot,
and thereof takes his name:
Though some there are that force
but on their pleasures prest,
Vnmindefull of their plighted truth
and falsely forged hest:
Yet will I not approoue
mée guiltie of this crime,
Ne breake the friendship late begoon
as you shall trie in time.
No distance of the place
shall reaue thée from my brest:
Not fawning chaunce, nor frowning hap
shall make mée swarue my Hest.
As soone may Phoebus frame
his fierie Steades to roon
Their race from path they woonted were,
and ende where they begoon:
As soone shall Saturne cease
his bended broowes to show,
And frowning face to friendly Starres
that in their Circles go:
As soone the Tiger tame
and Lion shall you finde:
And brutish beastes that sauage were
shall swarue their bedlam kinde:
As soone the frost shall flame,
and Aetna cease to burne,
And restlesse Riuers to their springs
and Fountaines shall returne;
As absence bréede debate,
or want of sight procure
Our faithfull friendships writh awrie
whilst liuely breath indure.
As soone I will commit
my selfe to Lethes lake
As the (swéete friend) whome I a Friend
haue chose for vertues sake.
How may a man forget
the coale that burnes within?
Augmenting still his secret sore
by piercing fell and skin?
May Martirs cease to mourne
or thinke of torments prest,
Whilst paine to paine is added aie
to further their vnrest?
May Shipmen in distresse
at pleasure of the winde
Tost too and fro by surge of Seas
that they in tempest finde,
Forget Neptunus rage
or blustring Borias blast,
When Cables are in sunder crackt,
and tackle rent from Mast?
Ne may I (Friend) forget
(vnlesse I would but faine)
The salue that doth recure my sore
and heales the scarre againe.
I send thée by the winde
ten thousand sighes a day,
Which dim the Skies with clowdie smoke
as they doe passe away.
Oft gazing on the Sunne
I count Apollo blest,
For that he vewes thée once aday
in passing to the West.
Oh that I had his powre
and blasing Lampe of light
Then thou my Friend should stand asurde
to neuer sée the night.
But since it is not so,
content thy selfe a while:
And with remembrance of thy Friend
the lothsome time begile.
Till Fortune doe agrée
that we shall méete againe:
For then shall presence bréede our ioyes
whome absence put to paine.
And of my olde good will
(good Friend) thy selfe assure
Haue no distrust, my loue shall last
as long as life shall dure.