Sarah.
The more we live, the more we see, alas,
What life it is that in this world we pass.
Was never woman borne upon the mould,
That for her husband or her issue could
Herself with me in happiness compare.
But yet I have endured such grief and care
These last three days since they went hence, yt well
I am not able for my life to tell,
Which of the twain hath greater to me been,
The former joy, or present pain I mean
Which I have felt these last 3. days, since they
Have bin away: for neither night nor day
Have I taken rest, because my mind doth run
On nothing but my husband and my son.
And of a truth I was to blame as tho,
In that I suffered them away to go,
⟨p. 31⟩And went not with them. Of the six days three,
Alas but three my God, yet passed be,
And yet three more my patience still must prove.
Alas my God which seest me from above,
Both outwardly and inwardly alway,
Vouchsafe to shorten these three years I say,
For were they much more shorter than they be,
They be not days, but months & years to me
My God, thy promise putts me out of doubt:
But if thou long delay the falling out,
I fear I shall have need of greater strength,
To bear the pain in holding out at length.
Wherefore my God, now grant thou unto me
I may with joy right soon my husband see,
And eke mine Isaac in mine arms embrace
Returned in health and safety to this place.
Sara.
The more we liue, the more we see, alas,
What life it is that in this world we passe.
Was neuer woman borne vpon the mowld,
That for hir husband or hir yssue could
Hirselfe with me in happinesse compare.
But yit I haue indurde such greefe and care
These last three dayes since they went hence, yt well
I am not able for my life to tell,
Which of the twayne hath greater to me beene,
The former ioy, or present peyne I meene
Which I haue felt these last 3. dayes, since they
Haue bin away: for nother night nor day
Haue I tane rest, bycause my mind doth ronne
On nothing but my husband and my sonne.
And of a truth I was to blame as tho,
In that I suffered them away to goe,
⟨p. 31⟩And went not with them. Of the six dayes three,
Alas but three my God, yit passed bee,
And yit three mo my patience still must proue.
Alas my God which seest me from aboue,
Both outwardly and inwardly alway,
Uowtsafe to shorten these three yeeres I say,
For were they much more shorter than they be,
They be not dayes, but moneths & yeeres to me
My God, thy promis putts me out of dowt:
But if thou long delay the falling out,
I feare I shall haue neede of greater strength,
To beare the peyne in holding out at length.
Wherefore my God, now graunt thou vnto me
I may with ioy right soone my husband see,
And eke mine Isaac in mine armes embrace
Returnd in helth and saftie to this place.
