Cardenia the Nymph to her false Shepherd Faustus

Faustus, if thou wilt read from me
These few and simple lines,
By them most clearly thou shall see
How little should accounted be
Thy feigned words and signs.
For noting well thy deeds unkind,
Shepherd, thou must not scan.
That ever it came to my mind.
To praise thy faith like to the wind.

Or for a constant man.
For this in thee shall so be found,
As smoke blown in the air;
Or like quicksilver turning round;
Or as a house built on the ground
Of sands that do impair.
To firmness thou art contrary.
More slipp'ry than the eel;
Changing as weathercock on high.
Or the chameleon on the dye.

Or fortune's turning wheel.
Who would believe thou wert so free.
To blaze me thus each hour?
My shepherdess, thou liv'st in me.
My soul doth only dwell in thee.
And every vital power;
Pale Atropos my vital string
Shall cut, and life offend;
The stream shall first turn to their spring;
The world shall end, and everything.

Before my love shall end.
This love that thou didst promise me.
Shepherd, where is it found?
The word and faith I had of thee.
Oh, tell me now where may they be,
Or where may they resound?
Too soon thou didst the title gain
Of giver of vain words;
Too soon my love thou didst obtain,
Too soon thou lov'dst Diana in vain.

That nought but scorn affords.
But one thing now I will thee tell,
That much thy patience moves;
That though Diana doth excel
In beauty, yet she keeps not well
Her faith, nor loyal proves;
Then thou hast chosen, each one saith.
Thine equal, and a shrow;
For if thou hast undone thy faith.
Her love and lover she betrayeth:

So like to like may go.
If now this sonnet, which I send,
Will anger thee, before
Remember, Faustus (yet my friend),
That if these speeches do offend,
Thy deeds do hurt me more.
Then let each one of us amend;
Thou deeds, I words so spent;
For I confess I blame my pen,
Do thou as much, so in the end
Thy deeds thou do repent.