A Cloud of Care hath Covered all my Coast, by George Gascoigne

edited by Chad Benson

This poem appears in George Gascoigne's work of prose fiction, The Adventures of Master F.J., first published in 1573 and later revised, renamed and relocated to Italy in a 1575 edition. A description of life in high courtly society, F.J. relates a story of wooing and winning within a love triangle involving F.J. and two other women.
"A cloud of care hath covered all my coast" is one of several poems composed by the story's hero which appears throughout the course of the narrative. Upon being given the cold shoulder by his love interest, F.J. spends a restless night alone and wakes up early to hastily compose this poem. 

   A cloud of care hath covered all my coast,
   And storms of strife do threaten to appear.
   The waves of woe which I mistrusted most,
   Have broke the banks wherein my life lay clear.
   Chips of ill chance are fallen amid my choice,            5
   To mar the mind that meant for to rejoice.

   Before I sought, I found the haven of hap,
   Wherein (once found) I sought to shroud my ship;
   But lowring love hath lift me from her lap,
   And crabbed lot begins to hang the lip.                   10
   The drops of dark mistrust do fall so thick,
   They pierce my coat, and touch my skin at quick.

   What may be said where truth cannot prevail?
   What plea may serve where will itself is judge?
   What reason rules where right and reason fail?           15
   Remediless then must the guiltless trudge,
   And seek out care to be the carving knife
   To cut the thread that lingereth such a life.

5ill chance] bad luck.
8 haven of hap] shelter of good fortune.
9 lowring] louring, frowning; also possibly "lowering."
10 crabbed] crooked, perverse; hang the lip] pout.
18. lingereth] tediously prolongs.

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