To wisshe and want and not obtain

To wisshe and want and not obtain
To seke and sew ese of my pain,
Syns all that ever I do is vain,
What may it availl me !

All tho I stryve boeth day and howre
Against the streme of all my powre,
If fortune list yet for to lowre,
What may it availl me !

If willingly I suffre woo,
If from the fyre me list not goo.
If then I burn to plaine me so,
What may it availl me !

And if the harme that I suffre
Be run too farr oute of mesur.
To seke for helpe any further,
What may it availl me !

What tho eche hert that hereth me plain,
Pitieth and plaineth for my payn,
If I no les in greif remain
What may it availl me !

Ye tho the want of my relief
Displease the causer of my greif,
Syns I remain still in myschief
What may it availl me !

Suche cruell chaunce doeth so me threte,
Continuelly inward to frete.
Then of relesse for to trete
What may it availl me !

Ffortune is deiff unto my call,
My torment moveth her not at all,
And though she torn as doeth a ball,
What may it availl me !

Ffor in despere there is no rede;
To want of ere, speche is no spede;
To linger still, alyve as dede,
What may it availl me !