46 A THIRD TRIBUTE TO WYATT
W. resteth here, that quick could neuer rest;
Whose heauenly giftes encreased by disdain,
And vertue sank the deper in his brest:
Such profit he by enuy could obtain.
A hed, where wisdom misteries did frame;
Whose hammers bet styll in that liuely brayn
As on a stithe, where that some work of fame
Was dayly wrought, to turne to Britaines gayn.
A visage, stern and myld; where bothe did grow,
Vice to contemne, in vertue to reioyce;
Amid great stormes, whom grace assured so,
To lyue vpright, and smile at fortunes choyce.
A hand, that taught what might be sayd in ryme;
That reft Chaucer the glory of his wit;
A mark, the which—vnparfited, for time—
Some may approche, but neuer non shall hit.
A toung, that serued in forein realmes his king;
Whose courteous talke to vertue did enflame
Eche noble hart; a worthy guide to bring
Our English youth, by trauail, vnto fame.
An eye, whose iudgement none affect could blinde,
Frendes to allure, and foes to reconcile;
Whose persing loke did represent a mynde
With vertue fraught, reposed, voyd of gyle.
A hart, where drede was neuer so imprest
To hyde the thought that might the trouth auance;
In neyther fortune lost, nor yet represt,
To swell in wealth, or yeld vnto mischance.
A valiant corps, where force and beawty met,
Happy, alas! to happy, but for foes,
Lieud, and ran the race that nature set;
Of manhodes shape, where she the molde did lose.
But to the heauens that simple soule is fled;
Which left with such, as couet Christ to know,
Witnesse of faith that neuer shall be ded;
Sent for our helth, but not receiued so.
Thus, for our gilte, this iewel haue we lost;
The earth his bones, the heavens possesse his gost.
