Collected poems of Sir Thomas Wyatt Edited by Kenneth Muir and Patricia Thomson |
 |
 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. | V Poems from the Devonshire Manuscript |
| CLXXVIII. |
| CLXXIX. |
| CLXXX. |
| CLXXXI. |
| CLXXXII. |
| CLXXXIII. |
| CLXXXIV. |
| CLXXXV. |
| CLXXXVI. |
| CLXXXVII. |
| CLXXXVIII. |
| CLXXXIX. |
| CXC. |
| CXCI. |
| CXCII. |
| CXCIII. |
| CXCIV. |
| CXCV. |
| CXCVI. |
| CXCVII. |
| CXCVIII. |
| CXCIX. |
| CC. |
| CCI. |
| CCII. |
| CCIII. |
| CCIV. |
| CCV. |
| CCVI. |
| CCVII. |
| CCVIII. |
| CCIX. |
| CCX. |
| CCXI. |
| CCXII. |
| CCXIII. |
| CCXIV. |
| CCXV. |
| CCXVI. |
| CCXVII. |
| CCXVIII. |
| CCXIX. |
| CCXX. |
| CCXXI. |
| CCXXII. |
| CCXXIII. |
| CCXXIV. |
| CCXXV. |
| CCXXVI. |
| CCXXVII. |
| CCXXVIII. |
| CCXXIX. |
| CCXXX. |
| CCXXXI. |
| CCXXXII. |
| CCXXXIII. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
 | Collected poems of Sir Thomas Wyatt |  |
189
V
Poems from the Devonshire Manuscript
CLXXVIII
[Take hede be tyme leste ye be spyede]
Take hede be tyme leste ye be spyede
Your lovyng eye yee canne not hide
At last the trowthe will sure be tryde,
Therefore take hede!
Your lovyng eye yee canne not hide
At last the trowthe will sure be tryde,
Therefore take hede!
For Som there be of craftie kynde
Thowe yow shew no parte of your mynde,
Sewrlye there Ies ye cannot blynde,
Therefore take hede!
Thowe yow shew no parte of your mynde,
Sewrlye there Ies ye cannot blynde,
Therefore take hede!
For in lyke case there selves hathe bene,
And thowght ryght sure none had theym sene,
But it was not as theye did wene,
Therfore take hede!
And thowght ryght sure none had theym sene,
But it was not as theye did wene,
Therfore take hede!
All thowgth theye be of dyvers skoolles,
And well can yose all craftye toolles
At leynthe theye prove themselfe bott foolles
Therefore take hede!
And well can yose all craftye toolles
At leynthe theye prove themselfe bott foolles
Therefore take hede!
Yf theye myght take yow in that trape
Theye wolde sone leve yt in your lape;
To love vnspyed ys but a happe
Therfore take hede!
Theye wolde sone leve yt in your lape;
To love vnspyed ys but a happe
Therfore take hede!
190
CLXXIX
[My pen, take payn a lytyll space]
My pen, take payn a lytyll space
To folow that whyche dothe me chace,
And hathe in hold my hart so sore;
But when thow hast thys browght to passe,
My pen, I prithe, wryght no more!
To folow that whyche dothe me chace,
And hathe in hold my hart so sore;
But when thow hast thys browght to passe,
My pen, I prithe, wryght no more!
Remember, oft thow hast me eaysyd,
And all my paynes full well apeaysyd,
But now I know vnknowen before
Ffor where I trust I am dysceavyd,
And yet, my pen, thow canst no more.
And all my paynes full well apeaysyd,
But now I know vnknowen before
Ffor where I trust I am dysceavyd,
And yet, my pen, thow canst no more.
A tyme thow haddyst as other have
To wryght whyche way my hope to crave;
That tyme ys past; withdrawe therffore!
Syns we do lose that other save,
As good leve off and wryght no more.
To wryght whyche way my hope to crave;
That tyme ys past; withdrawe therffore!
Syns we do lose that other save,
As good leve off and wryght no more.
Yn worthe to vse another waye,
Not as we wold, but as we maye,
For ons my losse ys past Restore,
And my desyre ys my decaye;
My pen, yet wryght a lytyll more.
Not as we wold, but as we maye,
For ons my losse ys past Restore,
And my desyre ys my decaye;
My pen, yet wryght a lytyll more.
To love in vayn who euer shall
Off worldlye payn yt passythe all,
As in lyke case I fynd. Wherfore
To hold so fast and yet to ffall?
Alas, my pen, now wryght no more!
Off worldlye payn yt passythe all,
As in lyke case I fynd. Wherfore
To hold so fast and yet to ffall?
Alas, my pen, now wryght no more!
Syns thow hast taken payn thys space
To folow that whyche dothe me chace,
And hathe in hold my hart so sore,
Now hast thow browght my mynde to passe:
My pen, I prithe, wryght no more.
To folow that whyche dothe me chace,
191
Now hast thow browght my mynde to passe:
My pen, I prithe, wryght no more.
CLXXX
[I love lovyd and so doithe she]
I love lovyd and so doithe she,
And yet in love wee sufer still;
The cause is strange as semeth me,
To love so will and want our will.
And yet in love wee sufer still;
The cause is strange as semeth me,
To love so will and want our will.
O deadly yea! O grevous smart!
Worse than refuse, vnhappe gaine!
I love: whoeuer playd this part,
To love so will and leve in payn.
Worse than refuse, vnhappe gaine!
I love: whoeuer playd this part,
To love so will and leve in payn.
Was euer hart soo well agrede,
Sines love was love as I do trowe,
That in ther love soo evell dyd sped,
To love so will and leve in woo?
Sines love was love as I do trowe,
That in ther love soo evell dyd sped,
To love so will and leve in woo?
Thes morne wee bothe and hathe don long,
With wofull plaint and carefull voice:
Alas! it is a grevous wrowng
To love so will and not reioice.
With wofull plaint and carefull voice:
Alas! it is a grevous wrowng
To love so will and not reioice.
And here an end of all our mone!
With sighinge oft my brethe is skant,
Sines of myshappe ours is alone—
To love so will and it to wantt.
With sighinge oft my brethe is skant,
Sines of myshappe ours is alone—
To love so will and it to wantt.
But they that causer is of this,
Of all owr cares god send them part!
That they may trowe what greve it is
To love so will and leve in smart.
Of all owr cares god send them part!
That they may trowe what greve it is
To love so will and leve in smart.
192
CLXXXI
[Farewell all my wellfare]
Farewell all my wellfare,
My shue is trode awry;
Now may I karke and care
To syng lullay by by.
Alas! what shall I do thereto?
There ys no shyffte to helpe me now.
My shue is trode awry;
Now may I karke and care
To syng lullay by by.
Alas! what shall I do thereto?
There ys no shyffte to helpe me now.
Who made hytt such offence
To love for love agayn?
God wott that my pretence
Was but to ease hys payn;
Ffor I had Ruthe to se hys wo;
Alas, more fole, Why did I so?
To love for love agayn?
God wott that my pretence
Was but to ease hys payn;
Ffor I had Ruthe to se hys wo;
Alas, more fole, Why did I so?
For he frome me ys gone
And makes thereat a game
And hathe leffte me Alone
To suffer sorow and shame.
Alas! he is vnkynd dowtles
To leve me thus all comfortles.
And makes thereat a game
And hathe leffte me Alone
To suffer sorow and shame.
Alas! he is vnkynd dowtles
To leve me thus all comfortles.
Hytt ys a grevows smarte
To suffer paynes and sorrowe;
But most it grevyd my hart
He leyde hys feythe to borow;
And falshode hathe hys feythe and trowthe,
And he forsworne by many an othe.
To suffer paynes and sorrowe;
But most it grevyd my hart
He leyde hys feythe to borow;
And falshode hathe hys feythe and trowthe,
And he forsworne by many an othe.
All ye lovers, perde,
Hathe cawse to blame hys dede,
Whyche shall example be
To lett yow off yowre spede;
Let neuer woman Agayn
Trust to suche wordes as men can fayn.
Hathe cawse to blame hys dede,
Whyche shall example be
To lett yow off yowre spede;
Let neuer woman Agayn
Trust to suche wordes as men can fayn.
For I vnto my coste
Am warnyng to yow all,
That they whom you trust most
Sonest dysceyve yow shall;
But complaynt cannot redresse
Of my gret greff the gret excesse.
Am warnyng to yow all,
That they whom you trust most
193
But complaynt cannot redresse
Of my gret greff the gret excesse.
CLXXXII
[The hart and servys to yow profferd]
The hart and servys to yow profferd
With ryght good wyll full honestly,
Refuce yt not syns yt is offerd
But take yt to yow jentylly.
With ryght good wyll full honestly,
Refuce yt not syns yt is offerd
But take yt to yow jentylly.
And tho yt be a small present,
Yet good, consyder gracyowsly
The thowght, the mynd, and the entent
Of hym that lovys you faythfully.
Yet good, consyder gracyowsly
The thowght, the mynd, and the entent
Of hym that lovys you faythfully.
Yt were a thyng of small effecte
To worke my wo thus cruelly,
Ffor my good wyll to be abiecte:
Therfore accepte yt lovyngly.
To worke my wo thus cruelly,
Ffor my good wyll to be abiecte:
Therfore accepte yt lovyngly.
Payn or travell, to rune or ryde,
I vndertake yt plesawntly;
Byd ye me go and strayte I glyde
At your commawndement humbly.
I vndertake yt plesawntly;
Byd ye me go and strayte I glyde
At your commawndement humbly.
Payn or plesure now may yow plant
Evyn whyche it plese yow stydfastly;
Do whyche yow lyst, I shall not want
To be your servant secrettly.
Evyn whyche it plese yow stydfastly;
Do whyche yow lyst, I shall not want
To be your servant secrettly.
And syns so muche I do desyre
To be your owne Assuryddly,
Ffor all my servys and my hyer
Reward your servante lyberally.
To be your owne Assuryddly,
Ffor all my servys and my hyer
Reward your servante lyberally.
CLXXXIII
[What menythe thys when I lye alone?]
What menythe thys when I lye alone?
I tosse, I turne, I syghe, I grone,
My bedd me semys as hard as stone:
What menys thys?
I tosse, I turne, I syghe, I grone,
My bedd me semys as hard as stone:
What menys thys?
194
I syghe, I playne contynually;
The clothes that on my bedd do ly
Always methynk they lye awry:
What menys thys?
The clothes that on my bedd do ly
Always methynk they lye awry:
What menys thys?
In slumbers oft for fere I quake;
Ffor hete and cold I burne and shake;
Ffor lake of slepe my hede dothe ake;
What menys thys?
Ffor hete and cold I burne and shake;
Ffor lake of slepe my hede dothe ake;
What menys thys?
A mornynges then when I do rysse
I torne vnto my wontyd gysse;
All day after muse and devysse:
What menys thys?
I torne vnto my wontyd gysse;
All day after muse and devysse:
What menys thys?
And yff perchanse by me there passe
She vnto whome I sue for grace,
The cold blood forsakythe my face:
What menythe thys?
She vnto whome I sue for grace,
The cold blood forsakythe my face:
What menythe thys?
But yff I sytte nere her by,
With lowd voyce my hart dothe cry,
And yet my mowthe ys dome and dry:
What menys thys?
With lowd voyce my hart dothe cry,
And yet my mowthe ys dome and dry:
What menys thys?
To aske ffor helpe no hart I have
My tong dothe fayle what I shuld crave,
Yet inwardly I Rage and Rave:
What menys thys?
My tong dothe fayle what I shuld crave,
Yet inwardly I Rage and Rave:
What menys thys?
Thus have I passyd many a yere,
And many a day, tho nowght Apere;
But most of that that most I fere:
What menys thys?
And many a day, tho nowght Apere;
But most of that that most I fere:
What menys thys?
CLXXXIV
[Ys yt possyble]
Ys yt possyble
That so hye debate,
So sharpe, so sore, and off suche rate
Shuld end so sone and was begone so late?
Is it possible?
That so hye debate,
So sharpe, so sore, and off suche rate
195
Is it possible?
Ys yt possyble
So cruell intent,
So hasty hete and so sone spent,
Ffrom love to hate, and thens ffor to Relent?
Is it possyble?
So cruell intent,
So hasty hete and so sone spent,
Ffrom love to hate, and thens ffor to Relent?
Is it possyble?
Ys yt possyble
That eny may fynde
Within on hert so dyverse mynd,
To change or torne as wether and wynd?
Is it possyble?
That eny may fynde
Within on hert so dyverse mynd,
To change or torne as wether and wynd?
Is it possyble?
Is it possyble
To spye yt in an Iye
That tornys as oft as chance on dy?
The trothe wheroff can eny try?
Is it possyble?
To spye yt in an Iye
That tornys as oft as chance on dy?
The trothe wheroff can eny try?
Is it possyble?
It is possyble
Ffor to torne so oft,
To bryng that lowyste that wasse most Alofft,
And to fall hyest yet to lyght sofft:
It is possyble.
Ffor to torne so oft,
To bryng that lowyste that wasse most Alofft,
And to fall hyest yet to lyght sofft:
It is possyble.
All ys possyble,
Who so lyst beleve;
Trust therfore fyrst, and after preve;
As men wedd ladyes by lycence and leve,
All ys possyble.
Who so lyst beleve;
Trust therfore fyrst, and after preve;
As men wedd ladyes by lycence and leve,
All ys possyble.
CLXXXV
[Alas, poor man, what hap have I]
Alas, poor man, what hap have I
That must fforbeare that I love best
I trow yt be my desteny
Neuer to lyve in quiet Rest.
That must fforbeare that I love best
I trow yt be my desteny
Neuer to lyve in quiet Rest.
196
No wonder ys tho I complayn,
Not withowt cawse ye may be sure;
I seke ffor that I cannot attayn
Whyche ys my mortall dysplesure.
Not withowt cawse ye may be sure;
I seke ffor that I cannot attayn
Whyche ys my mortall dysplesure.
Alas, pore hart, as in thys case
With pensyff playntes thow art opprest,
Vnwysse thow were to desyre place
Where as another ys possest.
With pensyff playntes thow art opprest,
Vnwysse thow were to desyre place
Where as another ys possest.
Do what I can to ese thy smart,
Thow wylt not let to love her styll;
Hyrs and not myn I se thow art
Let her do by the as she wyll.
Thow wylt not let to love her styll;
Hyrs and not myn I se thow art
Let her do by the as she wyll.
A carefull carkace full of payn
Now hast thow lefft to morne for the;
The hart ons gone the body ys slayn;
That euer I saw her, wo ys me!
Now hast thow lefft to morne for the;
The hart ons gone the body ys slayn;
That euer I saw her, wo ys me!
Myn Iye, alas, was cawse of thys
Whyche her to se had neuer hys ffyll;
To me that syght full bytter ys
In Recompence of my good wyll.
Whyche her to se had neuer hys ffyll;
To me that syght full bytter ys
In Recompence of my good wyll.
She that I sarve all other above
Hathe payd my hyre as ye may se;
I was vnhappy and that I prove
To love aboue my poore degre.
Hathe payd my hyre as ye may se;
I was vnhappy and that I prove
To love aboue my poore degre.
CLXXXVI
[And wylt thow leve me thus?]
And wylt thow leve me thus?
Say nay, say nay, ffor shame,
To save the from the Blame
Of all my greffe and grame;
And wylt thow leve me thus?
Say nay, Say nay!
Say nay, say nay, ffor shame,
To save the from the Blame
Of all my greffe and grame;
And wylt thow leve me thus?
Say nay, Say nay!
And wylt thow leve me thus,
That hathe lovyd the so long,
In welthe and woo Among?
And ys thy hart so strong
As for to leve me thus?
Say nay, Say nay!
That hathe lovyd the so long,
In welthe and woo Among?
197
As for to leve me thus?
Say nay, Say nay!
And wylt thow leve me thus,
That hathe gevyn the my hart,
Neuer for to Depart,
Nother for payn nor smart;
And wylt thow leve me thus?
Say nay, Say nay!
That hathe gevyn the my hart,
Neuer for to Depart,
Nother for payn nor smart;
And wylt thow leve me thus?
Say nay, Say nay!
And wylt thow leve me thus
And have nomore Pyttye
Of hym that lovythe the?
Helas thy cruellte!
And wylt thow leve me thus?
Say nay, Say nay!
And have nomore Pyttye
Of hym that lovythe the?
Helas thy cruellte!
And wylt thow leve me thus?
Say nay, Say nay!
CLXXXVII
[The restfull place, Revyver of my smarte]
The restfull place, Revyver of my smarte,
The labors salve incressyng my sorow,
The body ese and trobler off my hart,
Quieter of mynd and my vnquiet foo,
Fforgetter of payn, Remembrer of my woo,
The place of slepe wherein I do but wake
Besprent with teres my bed I the forsake.
The labors salve incressyng my sorow,
The body ese and trobler off my hart,
Quieter of mynd and my vnquiet foo,
Fforgetter of payn, Remembrer of my woo,
The place of slepe wherein I do but wake
Besprent with teres my bed I the forsake.
The frost, the snow, may not redresse my hete
Nor yet no heate abate my fervent cold.
I know nothyng to ese my paynes mete,
Eche cure cawsythe increse by twenty fold;
Revyvyng carys vpon my sorows old.
Suche overthwart affectes they do me make
Bysprent with terys my bed for to forsake.
Nor yet no heate abate my fervent cold.
I know nothyng to ese my paynes mete,
Eche cure cawsythe increse by twenty fold;
Revyvyng carys vpon my sorows old.
Suche overthwart affectes they do me make
Bysprent with terys my bed for to forsake.
198
Yet helpythe yt not I fynd no better ese
In bed or owt thys moste cawsythe my payn,
Where most I seke how beste that I may plese,
My lost labor, Alas, ys all in vayn;
Yet that I gave I cannot call agayn;
No place fro me my greffe away can take,
Wherfor with terys my bed I the forsake.
In bed or owt thys moste cawsythe my payn,
Where most I seke how beste that I may plese,
My lost labor, Alas, ys all in vayn;
Yet that I gave I cannot call agayn;
No place fro me my greffe away can take,
Wherfor with terys my bed I the forsake.
CLXXXVIII
[As power and wytt wyll me Assyst]
As power and wytt wyll me Assyst
My wyll shall wyll evyn as ye lyst.
My wyll shall wyll evyn as ye lyst.
Ffor as ye lyst my wyll ys bent
In euery thyng to be content
To serve in love tyll lyff be spent
And to Reward my love thus ment
Evyn as ye lyst.
In euery thyng to be content
To serve in love tyll lyff be spent
And to Reward my love thus ment
Evyn as ye lyst.
To fayn or fable ys not my mynd
Nor to Refuce suche as I fynd
But as a lambe of humble kynd
Or byrd in cage to be Assynd
Evyn as ye lyst.
Nor to Refuce suche as I fynd
But as a lambe of humble kynd
Or byrd in cage to be Assynd
Evyn as ye lyst.
When all the flokk ys cum and gone
Myn eye and hart agreythe in one
Hathe chosyn yow only Alone
To be my joy or elles my mone
Evyn as ye lyst.
Myn eye and hart agreythe in one
Hathe chosyn yow only Alone
To be my joy or elles my mone
Evyn as ye lyst.
Joy yf pytty apere in place
Mone yf dysdayn do shew hys face
Yet crave I not as in thys case
But as ye lede to follow the trace
Evyn as ye lyst.
Mone yf dysdayn do shew hys face
Yet crave I not as in thys case
199
Evyn as ye lyst.
Sum in wordes muche love can fayn
And sum for wordes gyve wordes agayn;
Thus wordes for wordes in wordes Remayn,
And yet at last wordes do optayn
Evyn as ye lyst.
And sum for wordes gyve wordes agayn;
Thus wordes for wordes in wordes Remayn,
And yet at last wordes do optayn
Evyn as ye lyst.
To crave in words I wyll exchew
And love in dede I wyll ensew;
Yt ys my mynd bothe hole and trew
And for my trewthe I pray yow rew,
Evyn as ye lyst.
And love in dede I wyll ensew;
Yt ys my mynd bothe hole and trew
And for my trewthe I pray yow rew,
Evyn as ye lyst.
Dere hart, I bydd you now farewell
With better hart than tong can tell;
Yet take thys tale as trew as gospell;
Ye may my lyff save or expell
Evyn as ye lyst.
With better hart than tong can tell;
Yet take thys tale as trew as gospell;
Ye may my lyff save or expell
Evyn as ye lyst.
CLXXXIX
[Sum tyme I syghe, sumtyme I syng]
Sum tyme I syghe, sumtyme I syng,
Sumtyme I lawghe, sumtyme mornynge,
As one in dowte thys ys my ssayyng:
Have I dysplesyd yow in anythyng?
Sumtyme I lawghe, sumtyme mornynge,
As one in dowte thys ys my ssayyng:
Have I dysplesyd yow in anythyng?
Alake, what aylythe you to be grevyd?
Ryght sory am I that ye be mevyd;
I am your owne yf trewthe be prevyd
And by your dyspleasure as one myschevyd.
Ryght sory am I that ye be mevyd;
I am your owne yf trewthe be prevyd
And by your dyspleasure as one myschevyd.
When ye be mery, than am I glad;
When ye be sory, than am I sad;
Suche grace or fortune I would I had,
Yow for to plese how euer I were bestad.
When ye be sory, than am I sad;
Suche grace or fortune I would I had,
Yow for to plese how euer I were bestad.
200
When ye be mery, why shuld I care?
Ye are my joye and my wellfare;
I wyll you love; I wyll not spare
Into yowre presens as farr as I dare.
Ye are my joye and my wellfare;
I wyll you love; I wyll not spare
Into yowre presens as farr as I dare.
All my poore hart and my love trew
Whyle lyff dothe last I gyve yt yow;
And yow to serve with servys dew,
And neuer to change yow for no new.
Whyle lyff dothe last I gyve yt yow;
And yow to serve with servys dew,
And neuer to change yow for no new.
CXC
[Pacyence of all my smart]
Pacyence of all my smart,
Ffor fortune ys tornyd awry;
Pacyence must ese my hart
That mornes contynually;
Pacyence to suffer wrong
Ys a pacyence to long.
Ffor fortune ys tornyd awry;
Pacyence must ese my hart
That mornes contynually;
Pacyence to suffer wrong
Ys a pacyence to long.
Pacyence to have a nay
Of that I most Desyre;
Pacyence to haue all way
And euer burne lyke fyre;
Pacyence withowt desart
Ys grownder of my smart.
Of that I most Desyre;
Pacyence to haue all way
And euer burne lyke fyre;
Pacyence withowt desart
Ys grownder of my smart.
Who can with mery hart
Set forthe sum plesant song,
That allways felys but smart
And neuer hathe but wrong?
Yet pacyence euermore
Must hele the wownd and sore.
Set forthe sum plesant song,
That allways felys but smart
And neuer hathe but wrong?
Yet pacyence euermore
Must hele the wownd and sore.
Pacyence to be content
With froward fortunes trayn;
Pacyence to the intent
Sumwhat to slake my payn;
I see no Remedy
But suffer pacyently.
With froward fortunes trayn;
Pacyence to the intent
Sumwhat to slake my payn;
I see no Remedy
But suffer pacyently.
To playn wher ys none ere
My chawnce ys chawnsyd so
Ffor yt dothe well apere
My frend ys tornyd my foo;
But syns there ys no defence
I must take pacyence.
My chawnce ys chawnsyd so
201
My frend ys tornyd my foo;
But syns there ys no defence
I must take pacyence.
CXCI
[Who would haue euer thowght]
Who would haue euer thowght
A hart that was so sett
To have suche wrong me wrowght,
Or to be cownterfett?
But who that trustythe most
Ys lyke to pay the cost.
A hart that was so sett
To have suche wrong me wrowght,
Or to be cownterfett?
But who that trustythe most
Ys lyke to pay the cost.
I must of force, god wott,
Thys paynfull lyff susteyen,
And yet I know nott
The chefe cawse of my payn;
Thys ys a strange dyssese
To serve and neuer plese.
Thys paynfull lyff susteyen,
And yet I know nott
The chefe cawse of my payn;
Thys ys a strange dyssese
To serve and neuer plese.
I must of force endure
Thys drawght drawyn Awry,
Ffor I am fast and sure
To have the mate therby;
But note I wyll thys texte,
To draw better the nexte.
Thys drawght drawyn Awry,
Ffor I am fast and sure
To have the mate therby;
But note I wyll thys texte,
To draw better the nexte.
CXCII
[It was my choyse, yt was no chaunce]
It was my choyse, yt was no chaunce,
That browght my hart in others holde,
Wherby ytt hath had sufferaunce
Lenger perde then Reason wold;
Syns I ytt bownd where ytt was ffree,
Me thynkes, ywys, of Ryght yt shold
Acceptyd be.
That browght my hart in others holde,
Wherby ytt hath had sufferaunce
Lenger perde then Reason wold;
Syns I ytt bownd where ytt was ffree,
Me thynkes, ywys, of Ryght yt shold
Acceptyd be.
Acceptyd be withowte Refuse
Vnles that fortune hath the powere
All Ryght of love for to abuse
For, as they say, one happy howre
May more prevayle then Ryght or myght.
Yf fortune then lyst for to lowre,
What vaylyth Right?
Vnles that fortune hath the powere
All Ryght of love for to abuse
202
May more prevayle then Ryght or myght.
Yf fortune then lyst for to lowre,
What vaylyth Right?
What vaylyth Ryght yff thys be trew?
Then trust to chaunce and go by gesse;
Then who so lovyth may well go sew
Vncerten hope for hys redresse.
Yett some wolde say assueredly
Thou mayst appele for thy relesse
To fantasy.
Then trust to chaunce and go by gesse;
Then who so lovyth may well go sew
Vncerten hope for hys redresse.
Yett some wolde say assueredly
Thou mayst appele for thy relesse
To fantasy.
To fantasy pertaynys to chose;
All thys I knowe, for fantasy
Ffurst vnto love dyd me Induse;
But yet I knowe as stedefastly
That yff love haue no faster knott
So nyce a choyse slyppes sodenly—
Yt lastyth nott.
All thys I knowe, for fantasy
Ffurst vnto love dyd me Induse;
But yet I knowe as stedefastly
That yff love haue no faster knott
So nyce a choyse slyppes sodenly—
Yt lastyth nott.
Itt lastyth not that stondes by change;
Fansy doth change, fortune ys frayle;
Both these to plese, the ways ys strange;
Therfore me thynkes best to prevayle,
Ther ys no way that ys so Just
As trowgh to lede, tho tother fayle,
And therto trust.
Fansy doth change, fortune ys frayle;
Both these to plese, the ways ys strange;
Therfore me thynkes best to prevayle,
Ther ys no way that ys so Just
As trowgh to lede, tho tother fayle,
And therto trust.
CXCIII
[So vnwarely was never no man cawght]
So vnwarely was never no man cawght
With stedefast loke apon a goodly face,
As I of late; for sodenly me thowght
My hart was torne owte of hys place.
With stedefast loke apon a goodly face,
As I of late; for sodenly me thowght
My hart was torne owte of hys place.
Thorow myn Iye the strock frome hyrs dyd slyde,
Dyrectly downe vnto my hert ytt ranne;
In helpe wherof the blood therto dyd glyde,
And left my face both pale and wanne.
Dyrectly downe vnto my hert ytt ranne;
In helpe wherof the blood therto dyd glyde,
And left my face both pale and wanne.
203
Then was I leke a manne for woo amasyd,
Or leke the byrde that flyeth in to the fyer;
For whyll that I vpon her beaulte gasyd
The more I burnt in my desyre.
Or leke the byrde that flyeth in to the fyer;
For whyll that I vpon her beaulte gasyd
The more I burnt in my desyre.
Anon the blowd stert in my face agayne,
Enflamde with hete that yt had att my hart,
And browght therwith thorowt in euery vayne
A quakyng hete with plesaunt smert.
Enflamde with hete that yt had att my hart,
And browght therwith thorowt in euery vayne
A quakyng hete with plesaunt smert.
Then was I leke the strawe whan that the flame
Ys drevyn therin by force and rage off wynd;
I can nott tell, alas, what I shall blame,
Nor what to seke, nor what to fynd.
Ys drevyn therin by force and rage off wynd;
I can nott tell, alas, what I shall blame,
Nor what to seke, nor what to fynd.
But wele I wote the greffe holdes me so sore
In hete and cold betwyxt hope and drede,
That but her helpe to helth doth me restore
Thys restles lyff I may nott lede.
In hete and cold betwyxt hope and drede,
That but her helpe to helth doth me restore
Thys restles lyff I may nott lede.
CXCIV
[Thy promese was to loue me best]
Thy promese was to loue me best,
And that thy hart with myn shold rest,
And nat to brek thys thy behest,
Thy promese was, thy promese was.
And that thy hart with myn shold rest,
And nat to brek thys thy behest,
Thy promese was, thy promese was.
Thy promese was not to aquyt
My ffathfulnes with such despyt,
But recompense it yff thou myght,
Thy promese was, thy promese was.
My ffathfulnes with such despyt,
But recompense it yff thou myght,
Thy promese was, thy promese was.
Thy promese was, I tel the pleyn,
My ffayth shold not be spent in vayne,
But to haue mor shold be my gayne,
Thy promese was, thy promese was.
My ffayth shold not be spent in vayne,
But to haue mor shold be my gayne,
Thy promese was, thy promese was.
204
Thy promese was to haue obsarued
My ffayth lyke as yt hath deserued,
And nat casles thus to a' swarued,
Thy promese was, thy promese was.
My ffayth lyke as yt hath deserued,
And nat casles thus to a' swarued,
Thy promese was, thy promese was.
Thy promese was, I dar avow,
But yt ys changyt I wot well how,
Tho then wer then and now ys now,
Thy promese was, thy promese was.
But yt ys changyt I wot well how,
Tho then wer then and now ys now,
Thy promese was, thy promese was.
But sens to change thou dost delyt
And that thy ffayth hath tayn his fflyghte,
As thou desaruest I shall the quyt,
I promese the, I promese the.
And that thy ffayth hath tayn his fflyghte,
As thou desaruest I shall the quyt,
I promese the, I promese the.
CXCV
[I se the change ffrom that that was]
I se the change ffrom that that was
And how thy ffayth hath tayn his fflyt
But I with pacyense let yt pase
And with my pene thys do I wryt
To show the playn by prowff off syght,
I se the change.
And how thy ffayth hath tayn his fflyt
But I with pacyense let yt pase
And with my pene thys do I wryt
To show the playn by prowff off syght,
I se the change.
I se the change off weryd mynd
And sleper hold hath quet my hyer;
Lo! how by prowff in the I ffynd
A bowrnyng ffath in changyng ffyer.
Ffarwell my part, prowff ys no lyer!
I se the change.
And sleper hold hath quet my hyer;
Lo! how by prowff in the I ffynd
A bowrnyng ffath in changyng ffyer.
Ffarwell my part, prowff ys no lyer!
I se the change.
I se the change off chance in loue;
Delyt no lenger may abyd;
What shold I sek ffurther to proue?
No, no, my trust, ffor I haue tryd
The ffolloyng of a ffallse gyd:
I se the change.
Delyt no lenger may abyd;
What shold I sek ffurther to proue?
No, no, my trust, ffor I haue tryd
The ffolloyng of a ffallse gyd:
I se the change.
205
I se the change, as in thys case,
Has mayd me ffre ffrom myn avoo,
Ffor now another has my plase,
And or I wist, I wot ner how,
Yt hapnet thys as ye here now:
I se the change.
Has mayd me ffre ffrom myn avoo,
Ffor now another has my plase,
And or I wist, I wot ner how,
Yt hapnet thys as ye here now:
I se the change.
I se the change, seche ys my chance
To sarue in dowt and hope in vayn;
But sens my surty so doth glanse,
Repentens now shall quyt thy payn,
Neuer to trust the lyke agayn:
I se the change.
To sarue in dowt and hope in vayn;
But sens my surty so doth glanse,
Repentens now shall quyt thy payn,
Neuer to trust the lyke agayn:
I se the change.
CXCVI
[Howe shulde I]
Howe shulde I
Be so plesunte
In my semblaunt
As my fellowes bee?
Be so plesunte
In my semblaunt
As my fellowes bee?
Not long agoo
It chaunsed soo
As I ded walke alone
I harde a man
That now and than
Hymselff ded thus bemone:
It chaunsed soo
As I ded walke alone
I harde a man
That now and than
Hymselff ded thus bemone:
Alas (he saide)
I am betraide
And vttrelye ondone;
Whom I dede trust
And think so iuste
Another man hath wonne.
I am betraide
And vttrelye ondone;
Whom I dede trust
And think so iuste
Another man hath wonne.
Mye servise due
And herte so true
On her I ded bestowe;
I never ment
For to repente
Yn welthe nor yet in woo.
And herte so true
On her I ded bestowe;
206
For to repente
Yn welthe nor yet in woo.
Love ded asyen
Her to be myn
And nat to love non new;
But who can bynd
Ther ffeckell kynd
That never wyll be tru?
Her to be myn
And nat to love non new;
But who can bynd
Ther ffeckell kynd
That never wyll be tru?
The westerne winde
Hath turnid her minde
And blowen it clene awaye;
Therebye my welthe,
My mirth and helthe
Are dryven to grete dekaye.
Hath turnid her minde
And blowen it clene awaye;
Therebye my welthe,
My mirth and helthe
Are dryven to grete dekaye.
Ffortune ded smyle
A right shorte while
And never saide me naye,
With plesaunte plaes
And joyfull dayes
My tyme to passe awaye.
A right shorte while
And never saide me naye,
With plesaunte plaes
And joyfull dayes
My tyme to passe awaye.
Alas! ah las!
The tyme so was,
So never shall it be,
Sins she is gone,
And I alone
Armeles as ye maye see.
The tyme so was,
So never shall it be,
Sins she is gone,
And I alone
Armeles as ye maye see.
Where is the othe,
Where is the trothe
That she to me ded gyve?
Such fayned wordes
Withe silie boordes
Lett no wise man beleve.
Where is the trothe
That she to me ded gyve?
Such fayned wordes
Withe silie boordes
Lett no wise man beleve.
207
Ffor even as I
Thus wofullye
Vnto my self complaine,
Yf ye then truste
Nedes lerne ye muste
To sing my song in vayne:
Thus wofullye
Vnto my self complaine,
Yf ye then truste
Nedes lerne ye muste
To sing my song in vayne:
How shulde I
Be so plesunte
In my semblaunt
As my fellowes be?
Be so plesunte
In my semblaunt
As my fellowes be?
CXCVII
[Ffull well yt maye be sene]
Ffull well yt maye be sene
To suche as vnderstand
How some there be that wene
They haue theyre welthe at hand
Throughe loves abusyd band;
But lytyll do they see
Th'abuse wherin they be.
To suche as vnderstand
How some there be that wene
They haue theyre welthe at hand
Throughe loves abusyd band;
But lytyll do they see
Th'abuse wherin they be.
Of loue there ys a kynd
Whyche kyndlythe by abuse,
As in a feble mynd
Whome fansy may enduce
By loues dysceatfull vse
To folowe the fond lust
And profe of a vayne trust.
Whyche kyndlythe by abuse,
As in a feble mynd
Whome fansy may enduce
By loues dysceatfull vse
To folowe the fond lust
And profe of a vayne trust.
As I my self may saye
By tryall of the same
No wyght can well bewraye
The falshed loue can frame;
I saye twyxt grefe and game
Ther ys no lyvyng man
That knows the crafte loue can.
By tryall of the same
No wyght can well bewraye
The falshed loue can frame;
I saye twyxt grefe and game
Ther ys no lyvyng man
That knows the crafte loue can.
208
Ffor loue so well can fayne
To favour for the whyle
That suche as sekes the gayne
Ar servyd with the gyle;
And some can thys concyle
To gyue the symple leave
Them sellffes for to dysceave.
To favour for the whyle
That suche as sekes the gayne
Ar servyd with the gyle;
And some can thys concyle
To gyue the symple leave
Them sellffes for to dysceave.
What thyng may more declare
Of loue the craftye kynd?
Then se the wyse, so ware,
In loue to be so blynd,
Yf so yt be assynd
Let them enjoye the gayn,
That thynkes yt worthe the payn.
Of loue the craftye kynd?
Then se the wyse, so ware,
In loue to be so blynd,
Yf so yt be assynd
Let them enjoye the gayn,
That thynkes yt worthe the payn.
CXCVIII
[Synes loue ys suche that, as ye wott]
Synes loue ys suche that, as ye wott,
Cannot allways be wysely vsyd,
I say therfore then blame me nott,
Tho I therin haue ben abusyd;
Ffor as with cause I am accusyd.
Gyllty I graunt, suche was my lott;
And tho yt cannot be excusyd,
Yet let suche folye be forgott.
Cannot allways be wysely vsyd,
I say therfore then blame me nott,
Tho I therin haue ben abusyd;
Ffor as with cause I am accusyd.
Gyllty I graunt, suche was my lott;
And tho yt cannot be excusyd,
Yet let suche folye be forgott.
Ffor in my yeres of Rekles youthe
Me thought the power of loue so gret
That to her lawes I bound my treuthe
And to my wyll there was no lett.
Me lyst nomore so farr to fett
Suche frute, lo, as of loue ensewthe;
The gayn was small that was to gett,
And of the losse the lesse the reuthe.
Me thought the power of loue so gret
That to her lawes I bound my treuthe
And to my wyll there was no lett.
Me lyst nomore so farr to fett
Suche frute, lo, as of loue ensewthe;
The gayn was small that was to gett,
And of the losse the lesse the reuthe.
And few there ys but fyrst or last
A tyme in loue ones shall they haue
And glad I am my tyme ys past,
Henceforthe my fredome to withsaue.
Now in my hart there shall I grave
The groundyd grace that now I tast;
Thankyd be fortune that me gave
So fayre a gyfft, so sure and fast.
A tyme in loue ones shall they haue
And glad I am my tyme ys past,
Henceforthe my fredome to withsaue.
209
The groundyd grace that now I tast;
Thankyd be fortune that me gave
So fayre a gyfft, so sure and fast.
Now suche as haue me sene or thys,
Whan youthe in me sett forthe hys kynd,
And foly framd my thought amys,
The faute wherof now well I ffynd,
Loo, syns that so yt ys assynd
That vnto eche a tyme there ys,
Then blame the lott that led my mynd
Sometyme to lyue in loves blys.
Whan youthe in me sett forthe hys kynd,
And foly framd my thought amys,
The faute wherof now well I ffynd,
Loo, syns that so yt ys assynd
That vnto eche a tyme there ys,
Then blame the lott that led my mynd
Sometyme to lyue in loves blys.
But frome henceforth I do protest
By proffe of that that I haue past
Shall neuer ceace within my brest
The power of loue so late owt cast;
The knott therof ys knytt ffull fast,
And I therto so sure proffest,
Ffor euermore with me to last
The power wherin I am possest.
By proffe of that that I haue past
Shall neuer ceace within my brest
The power of loue so late owt cast;
The knott therof ys knytt ffull fast,
And I therto so sure proffest,
Ffor euermore with me to last
The power wherin I am possest.
CXCIX
[Lo! how I seke and sew to haue]
Lo! how I seke and sew to haue
That no man hathe and maye be had.
There ys no more but synk or saue,
And bryng thys doute to good or bad.
To lyue in sorows allways sad,
I lyke not so to lynger fforthe;
Hap evyll or good I shall be glad
To take that comes as well in worthe.
That no man hathe and maye be had.
There ys no more but synk or saue,
And bryng thys doute to good or bad.
To lyue in sorows allways sad,
I lyke not so to lynger fforthe;
Hap evyll or good I shall be glad
To take that comes as well in worthe.
Shold I sustayne thys gret dystres,
Styll wandryng forthe thus to and froo,
In dredfull hope to hold my pese,
And fede my sellff with secret woo?
Nay, nay, certayne I wyll not soo,
But sure I shall my self aply
To put in profe thys doute to knoo
And Rydd thys daunger Redely.
Styll wandryng forthe thus to and froo,
In dredfull hope to hold my pese,
And fede my sellff with secret woo?
Nay, nay, certayne I wyll not soo,
But sure I shall my self aply
210
And Rydd thys daunger Redely.
I shall assay by secret sute
To show the mynd of myn entent
And my desertes shall gyue suche frute
As with my hart my wordes be ment.
So by the profe of thys consent
Sone owt of doute I shall be sure;
For to rejoyce or to Repent
In joye or payne for to endure
To show the mynd of myn entent
And my desertes shall gyue suche frute
As with my hart my wordes be ment.
So by the profe of thys consent
Sone owt of doute I shall be sure;
For to rejoyce or to Repent
In joye or payne for to endure
CC
[My loue ys lyke vnto th'eternall fyre]
My loue ys lyke vnto th'eternall fyre,And I as those whyche therin do remayne
Whose grevous paynes ys but theyre gret desyre
To se the syght whyche they may not attayne.
So in helles heate my self I fele to be,
That am restraynd by gret extremyte
The syght of her whyche ys so dere to me.
O puissant loue and power of gret avayle,
By whome hell may be fellt or dethe assayle!
CCI
[Synes so ye please to here me playn]
Synes so ye please to here me playn,And that ye do reioyce my smart,
My lyst no lenger to Remayne
To suche as be so overthwart.
But cursyd be that cruell hart
Whyche hathe procuryd a careles mynd
Ffor me and myne vnfaynyd smart,
And forcythe me suche fautes to fynd.
More than to muche I am assuryd
Of thyne entent wherto to trust:
A spedles proffe I haue enduryd,
And now I leve yt to them that lust.
211
CCII
[Now must I lerne to lyue at rest]
Now must I lerne to lyue at rest
And weyne me of my wyll,
Ffor I repent where I was prest
My fansy to ffullfyll.
And weyne me of my wyll,
Ffor I repent where I was prest
My fansy to ffullfyll.
I may no lenger more endure
My wontyd lyf to lede,
But I must lerne to put in vre
The change of womanhede.
My wontyd lyf to lede,
But I must lerne to put in vre
The change of womanhede.
I may not se my seruys long
Rewardyd in suche wyse,
Nor I may not sustayne suche wrong
That ye my loue dyspyce.
Rewardyd in suche wyse,
Nor I may not sustayne suche wrong
That ye my loue dyspyce.
I may not syghe in sorows depe,
Nor wayle the wante of loue
Nor I may nother cruche nor crepe,
Where hyt dothe not behoue.
Nor wayle the wante of loue
Nor I may nother cruche nor crepe,
Where hyt dothe not behoue.
But I of force must nedes forsake
My faythe so fondly sett
And frome henceforthe must vndertake
Suche foly to fforgett.
My faythe so fondly sett
And frome henceforthe must vndertake
Suche foly to fforgett.
Now must I seke some otherways
My self for to withsaue,
And as I trust by myne assays
Some Remedy to haue.
My self for to withsaue,
And as I trust by myne assays
Some Remedy to haue.
I aske none other Remedy
To recompence my wrong,
But ones to haue the lyberty
That I haue lakt so long.
To recompence my wrong,
But ones to haue the lyberty
That I haue lakt so long.
CCIII
[Fforget not yet the tryde entent]
Fforget not yet the tryde entent
Of suche a truthe as I haue ment,
My gret travayle so gladly spent
Fforget not yet.
Of suche a truthe as I haue ment,
My gret travayle so gladly spent
Fforget not yet.
212
Fforget not yet when fyrst began
The wery lyffe ye know syns whan,
The sute, the seruys none tell can,
Fforgett not yet.
The wery lyffe ye know syns whan,
The sute, the seruys none tell can,
Fforgett not yet.
Fforget not yet the gret assays,
The cruell wrong, the skornfull ways,
The paynfull pacyence in denays,
Fforgett not yet.
The cruell wrong, the skornfull ways,
The paynfull pacyence in denays,
Fforgett not yet.
Fforget not yet, forget not thys,
How long ago hathe bene and ys
The mynd that neuer ment amys,
Fforget not yet.
How long ago hathe bene and ys
The mynd that neuer ment amys,
Fforget not yet.
Fforget not then thyn owne aprovyd
The whyche so long hathe the so louyd,
Whose stedfast faythe yet neuer movyd,
Fforget not thys.
The whyche so long hathe the so louyd,
Whose stedfast faythe yet neuer movyd,
Fforget not thys.
CCIV
[O myserable sorow withowten cure!]
O myserable sorow withowten cure!Yf it plese the, lo, to haue me thus suffir,
At lest yet let her know what I endure,
And this my last voyse cary thou thether
Wher lyved my hope now ded for euer;
For as ill grevus is my banyshement
As was my plesur when she was present.
CCV
[Blame not my lute, for he must sownd]
Blame not my lute, for he must sownd
Of thes or that as liketh me;
For lake of wytt the lutte is bownd
To gyve suche tunes as plesithe me;
Tho my songes be sume what strange
And spekes such words as toche thy change,
Blame not my lutte.
Of thes or that as liketh me;
For lake of wytt the lutte is bownd
To gyve suche tunes as plesithe me;
Tho my songes be sume what strange
And spekes such words as toche thy change,
Blame not my lutte.
213
My lutte, alas, doth not ofend
Tho that perfors he must agre
To sownd such teunes as I entend
To sing to them that hereth me;
Then tho my songes be some what plain,
And tocheth some that vse to fayn,
Blame not my lutte.
Tho that perfors he must agre
To sownd such teunes as I entend
To sing to them that hereth me;
Then tho my songes be some what plain,
And tocheth some that vse to fayn,
Blame not my lutte.
My lute and strynges may not deny
But as I strike they must obay;
Brake not them than soo wrongfully,
But wryeke thy selffe some wyser way;
And tho the songes whiche I endight
To qwytt thy chainge with Rightfull spight,
Blame not my lute.
But as I strike they must obay;
Brake not them than soo wrongfully,
But wryeke thy selffe some wyser way;
And tho the songes whiche I endight
To qwytt thy chainge with Rightfull spight,
Blame not my lute.
Spyght askyth spight and changing change,
And falsyd faith must nedes be knowne,
The faute so grett, the case so strange,
Of Right it must abrod be blown:
Then sins that by thyn own desartte
My soinges do tell how trew thou artt,
Blame not my lute.
And falsyd faith must nedes be knowne,
The faute so grett, the case so strange,
Of Right it must abrod be blown:
Then sins that by thyn own desartte
My soinges do tell how trew thou artt,
Blame not my lute.
Blame but thy selffe that hast mysdown
And well desaruid to haue blame;
Change thou thy way so evyll bygown
And then my lute shall sownd that same;
But if tyll then my fyngeres play
By thy desartt their wontyd way,
Blame not my lutte.
And well desaruid to haue blame;
Change thou thy way so evyll bygown
And then my lute shall sownd that same;
But if tyll then my fyngeres play
By thy desartt their wontyd way,
Blame not my lutte.
Farewell, vnknowne, for tho thow brake
My strynges in spight with grett desdayn
Yet haue I fownd owt for thy sake
Stringes for to strynge my lute agayne;
And yf perchance this folysh Ryme
Do make the blush at any tyme
Blame nott my lutte.
My strynges in spight with grett desdayn
Yet haue I fownd owt for thy sake
Stringes for to strynge my lute agayne;
And yf perchance this folysh Ryme
Do make the blush at any tyme
Blame nott my lutte.
214
CCVI
[All yn thi sight my lif doth hole depende]
All yn thi sight my lif doth hole depende,Thou hidist thyself and I must dye therefore;
But sins thou maiste so easelye saue thy frende
Whye doste thou styk to heale that thou madist sore?
Whye doo I dye sins thou maist me diffende?
For if I dye then maiste thou lyve no more,
Sins ton bye tother dothe lyve and fede thy herte,
I with thye sight, thou also with my smerte.
CCVII
[The fructe of all the seruise that I serue]
The fructe of all the seruise that I serueDispaire doth repe, such haples hap have I;
But tho he hath no powre to make me swarve
Yet bye the fire for colde I fele I dye;
In paradis for hunger still I sterve
And in the flowde for thurste to deth I drye;
So Tantalus ame I and yn worse payne
Amydes my helpe, and helples doth remayne.
CCVIII
[Yf with complaint the paine might be exprest]
Yf with complaint the paine might be exprest
That inwardelye dothe cause me sigh and grone,
Your harde herte and your cruell brest
Shulde sighe and playne for my vnreste;
And tho yt ware of stone
Yet shulde Remorse cause yt relent and mone.
That inwardelye dothe cause me sigh and grone,
Your harde herte and your cruell brest
Shulde sighe and playne for my vnreste;
And tho yt ware of stone
Yet shulde Remorse cause yt relent and mone.
But sins yt ys so farre out of mesure
That with my wordes I can yt not contayne,
My ouerlye truste, my hertes tresure,
Alas, whye doo I still indure
This restles smerte and payne,
Sins yf ye list ye maye my woo restraine?
That with my wordes I can yt not contayne,
My ouerlye truste, my hertes tresure,
Alas, whye doo I still indure
This restles smerte and payne,
Sins yf ye list ye maye my woo restraine?
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CCIX
[Sins you will nedes that I shall sing]
Sins you will nedes that I shall sing,
Take yt in worth siche as I have,
Plentye of plaint, mone and morning,
Yn depe dispaire and dedlye payne,
Boteles for bote, crying to crave,
To crave yn vayne.
Take yt in worth siche as I have,
Plentye of plaint, mone and morning,
Yn depe dispaire and dedlye payne,
Boteles for bote, crying to crave,
To crave yn vayne.
Such hammers worke within my hed
That sounde nought els vnto my eris
But faste at borde and wake abed:
Suche tune the tempre to my song
To waile my wrong, that I wante teris
To waile my wrong.
That sounde nought els vnto my eris
But faste at borde and wake abed:
Suche tune the tempre to my song
To waile my wrong, that I wante teris
To waile my wrong.
Dethe and dispaire afore my face,
My dayes dekaes, my grefe doth gro;
The cause thereof is in this place,
Whom crueltye dothe still constraine
For to reioise, tho yt be wo
To here me plaine.
My dayes dekaes, my grefe doth gro;
The cause thereof is in this place,
Whom crueltye dothe still constraine
For to reioise, tho yt be wo
To here me plaine.
A brokin lute, vntunid stringes
With such a song maye well bere parte,
That nether pleasith him that singes
Nor theim that here, but her alone
That with her herte wold straine my herte
To here yt grone.
With such a song maye well bere parte,
That nether pleasith him that singes
Nor theim that here, but her alone
That with her herte wold straine my herte
To here yt grone.
Yf it greve you to here this same
That you do fele but in my voyse,
Considre then what plesaunt game
I do sustaine in everye parte
To cause me sing or to reioyse
Within my herte.
That you do fele but in my voyse,
Considre then what plesaunt game
I do sustaine in everye parte
To cause me sing or to reioyse
Within my herte.
CCX
[Me list no more to sing]
Me list no more to sing
Of love nor of suche thing,
Howe sore that yt me wring;
For what I song or spake
Men dede my songis mistake.
Of love nor of suche thing,
216
For what I song or spake
Men dede my songis mistake.
My songes ware to defuse,
Theye made folke to muse;
Therefore, me to excuse,
Theye shall be song more plaine,
Nother of joye nor payne.
Theye made folke to muse;
Therefore, me to excuse,
Theye shall be song more plaine,
Nother of joye nor payne.
What vailith then to skippe
At fructe over the lippe?
For frute withouten taste
Dothe noght but rott and waste.
At fructe over the lippe?
For frute withouten taste
Dothe noght but rott and waste.
What vailith vndre kaye
To kepe treasure alwaye.
That never shall se daye?
Yf yt be not vsid
Yt ys but abusid.
To kepe treasure alwaye.
That never shall se daye?
Yf yt be not vsid
Yt ys but abusid.
What vayleth the flowre
To stond still and wither?
Yf no man yt savour
Yt servis onlye for sight
And fadith towardes night.
To stond still and wither?
Yf no man yt savour
Yt servis onlye for sight
And fadith towardes night.
Therefore fere not t'assaye
To gadre ye that maye
The flower that this daye
Is fresher than the next:
Marke well, I saye, this text.
To gadre ye that maye
The flower that this daye
Is fresher than the next:
Marke well, I saye, this text.
Let not the frute be lost
That is desired moste;
Delight shall quite the coste.
Yf hit be tane in tyme,
Small labour is to clyme.
That is desired moste;
Delight shall quite the coste.
Yf hit be tane in tyme,
Small labour is to clyme.
And as for siche treasure
That makithe the the Richer,
And no dele the poorer,
When it is gyven or lente
Me thinckes yt ware well spente.
That makithe the the Richer,
217
When it is gyven or lente
Me thinckes yt ware well spente.
Yf this be undre miste,
And not well playnlye wyste,
Vndrestonde me who lyste;
For I reke not a bene,
I wott what I doo meane.
And not well playnlye wyste,
Vndrestonde me who lyste;
For I reke not a bene,
I wott what I doo meane.
CCXI
[To Rayle or geste ye kno I vse it not]
To Rayle or geste ye kno I vse it notThough that such cause some tyme in folkes I finde:
And tho to chaung ye list to sett your minde,
Love yt who liste, in faithe I like yt not.
And if ye ware to me as ye are not,
I wolde be lothe to se you so unkinde;
But sins your faithe muste nedes be so be kinde,
Tho I hate yt, I praye you leve yt not.
Thinges of grete waight I neuer thought to crave:
This is but small—of right denye yt not.
Your fayning wayis as yet forget them not,
But like rewarde let other lovers have:
That is to saye, for seruis true and faste,
To long delaies and changing at the laste.
CCXII
[The Joye so short, alas, the paine so nere]
The Joye so short, alas, the paine so nere,
The waye so long, the departure so smarte,
The furst sight, alas, I bought to dere,
That so sodainelye now from hens must parte;
The bodye gone, yet remaine shall the herte
With her, wiche for me salte teris ded Raine,
And shall not chaunge till that we mete againe.
The waye so long, the departure so smarte,
The furst sight, alas, I bought to dere,
That so sodainelye now from hens must parte;
The bodye gone, yet remaine shall the herte
With her, wiche for me salte teris ded Raine,
And shall not chaunge till that we mete againe.
Tho tyme doth passe, yet shall not my love;
Tho I be farre, alwayes my hert is nere;
Tho other chaunge, yet will not I remove;
Tho other care not, yet love I will and fere;
Tho other hate, yet will I love my dere;
Tho other woll of lightnes saye adewe,
Yet woll I be founde stedefast and trewe.
Tho I be farre, alwayes my hert is nere;
Tho other chaunge, yet will not I remove;
218
Tho other hate, yet will I love my dere;
Tho other woll of lightnes saye adewe,
Yet woll I be founde stedefast and trewe.
When other laughe, alas, then do I wepe;
When other sing, then do I waile and crye;
When other runne, perforcyd I am to crepe;
When other daunce, in sorro I do lye;
When other Joye, for paine welnere I dye;
Thus brought from welthe, alas, to endles paine,
That undeseruid, causeles to remayne.
When other sing, then do I waile and crye;
When other runne, perforcyd I am to crepe;
When other daunce, in sorro I do lye;
When other Joye, for paine welnere I dye;
Thus brought from welthe, alas, to endles paine,
That undeseruid, causeles to remayne.
CCXIII
[Payne of all payne, the most grevous paine]
Payne of all payne, the most grevous paine
Ys to loue hartelye and cannot be loued againe.
Ys to loue hartelye and cannot be loued againe.
Love with vnkindenesse is causer of hevenis,
Of inwarde sorro and sighis painefull.
Whereas I love is no redresse
To no manner of pastime, the sprites so dull
With prive morninges and lookes Rufull:
The boddye all werishe, the collor pale and wan,
More like a gost then lyk a lyving man.
Of inwarde sorro and sighis painefull.
Whereas I love is no redresse
To no manner of pastime, the sprites so dull
With prive morninges and lookes Rufull:
The boddye all werishe, the collor pale and wan,
More like a gost then lyk a lyving man.
Whan Cupido hath inflamid the hertes desires
To love there as ys disdayne,
Of good or ill the minde obliuyous,
Nothing regarding but love t'attaine;
Alwais imagining by what meane or traine
Yt may be at rest; thus in a momente
Now here, now there, being never contente.
To love there as ys disdayne,
Of good or ill the minde obliuyous,
Nothing regarding but love t'attaine;
Alwais imagining by what meane or traine
Yt may be at rest; thus in a momente
Now here, now there, being never contente.
Tossing and torning, whan the body wold rest
With dreamis opprest and visions fantastycall,
Sleping or waking love is ever preste,
Some tyme to wepe, some tyme to crye and call,
Bewayling his fortune and lif bestiall;
Nowe in hope of recure and now in dispaire,
This ys a sorye lyf to lyve alwaye in care!
With dreamis opprest and visions fantastycall,
Sleping or waking love is ever preste,
Some tyme to wepe, some tyme to crye and call,
Bewayling his fortune and lif bestiall;
Nowe in hope of recure and now in dispaire,
This ys a sorye lyf to lyve alwaye in care!
219
Recorde of Therence in his commedis poeticall
Yn love ys Jelosye and iniuris mannye one
Angre and debate with mynde sensuall
Nowe warre, nowe peace, musing all alone,
Some tyme all morte and colde as enye stonne
This causith unkindenesse of siche as cannot skill
Of trewe love assurde with herte and good will.
Yn love ys Jelosye and iniuris mannye one
Angre and debate with mynde sensuall
Nowe warre, nowe peace, musing all alone,
Some tyme all morte and colde as enye stonne
This causith unkindenesse of siche as cannot skill
Of trewe love assurde with herte and good will.
Lucrese the Romaine for love of her lord
And bye cause perforce she had commit advowtrye
With Tarquinus, as the storye doth recorde
Her silf ded slee with a knif most pituoslye
Among her nigh frindes bye cause that she
So falslye was betrayed, lo this was the guardon,
Where as true love hathe no domynyon.
And bye cause perforce she had commit advowtrye
With Tarquinus, as the storye doth recorde
Her silf ded slee with a knif most pituoslye
Among her nigh frindes bye cause that she
So falslye was betrayed, lo this was the guardon,
Where as true love hathe no domynyon.
To make rehersall of old antiqitye
What nedith it? We see by experience
Among lovers yt chaunsith daylye
Displeasour and variaunce for none offens;
But if true love might gyve sentens
That vnkindenes and disdayne shuld have no place
But true harte for true love yt ware a grete grace.
What nedith it? We see by experience
Among lovers yt chaunsith daylye
Displeasour and variaunce for none offens;
But if true love might gyve sentens
That vnkindenes and disdayne shuld have no place
But true harte for true love yt ware a grete grace.
O Venus, ladye, of love the goddesse
Help all true lovers to have love againe!
Bannishe from thye presens disdayne and vnkindnesse,
Kyndnesse and pytie to thy seruice Retayne;
For true love, ons fixid in the cordiall vayne,
Can never be revoulsid bye no manner of arte,
Vnto the sowle from the boddye departe.
Help all true lovers to have love againe!
Bannishe from thye presens disdayne and vnkindnesse,
Kyndnesse and pytie to thy seruice Retayne;
For true love, ons fixid in the cordiall vayne,
Can never be revoulsid bye no manner of arte,
Vnto the sowle from the boddye departe.
CCXIV
[Lament my losse, my labor, and my payne]
Lament my losse, my labor, and my payne,
All ye that here mye wofull playnte and crye,
Yf ever man might ons your herte constrayne
To pytie wordes of right, yt shulde bee I;
That sins the time that youthe yn me ded rayne
My plesaunte yeris to bondage ded aplye,
Whiche as yt was I pourpose to declare,
Wherebye my frindes hereafter maye be ware.
All ye that here mye wofull playnte and crye,
Yf ever man might ons your herte constrayne
To pytie wordes of right, yt shulde bee I;
That sins the time that youthe yn me ded rayne
My plesaunte yeris to bondage ded aplye,
220
Wherebye my frindes hereafter maye be ware.
And if perchaunce some redres list to muse
What menith me so playnlye for to wright
My good entente the fawte of yt shall skuse,
Whiche meane nothing but trulye t'endyght
The crafte and care, the greef and long abuse
Of lovers lawe and eke her puisshaunte might,
Wiche though that menn oft tymes bye paynis doth kno,
Lyttle theye wot wiche wayes the gylis doth growe.
What menith me so playnlye for to wright
My good entente the fawte of yt shall skuse,
Whiche meane nothing but trulye t'endyght
The crafte and care, the greef and long abuse
Of lovers lawe and eke her puisshaunte might,
Wiche though that menn oft tymes bye paynis doth kno,
Lyttle theye wot wiche wayes the gylis doth growe.
Yet well ye know yt will renue my smarte
Thus to reherse the paynes that I have past;
My hand doth shake, my penn skant dothe his parte,
My boddye quakes, my wyttis begynne to waste;
Twixt heate and colde in fere I fele my herte
Panting for paine, and thus as all agaste
I do remayne skant wotting what I wryte:
Perdon me then rudelye tho I indyte.
Thus to reherse the paynes that I have past;
My hand doth shake, my penn skant dothe his parte,
My boddye quakes, my wyttis begynne to waste;
Twixt heate and colde in fere I fele my herte
Panting for paine, and thus as all agaste
I do remayne skant wotting what I wryte:
Perdon me then rudelye tho I indyte.
And patientelye, o Redre, I the praye
Take in good parte this worke as yt ys mente,
And greve the not with ought that I shall saye,
Sins with good will this boke abrode ys sent
To tell men how in youthe I ded assaye
What love ded mene and nowe I yt repente:
That musing me my frindes might well be ware,
And kepe them fre from all soche payne and care.
Take in good parte this worke as yt ys mente,
And greve the not with ought that I shall saye,
Sins with good will this boke abrode ys sent
To tell men how in youthe I ded assaye
What love ded mene and nowe I yt repente:
That musing me my frindes might well be ware,
And kepe them fre from all soche payne and care.
CCXV
[What shulde I saye]
What shulde I saye
Sins faithe is dede
And truthe awaye
From you ys fled?
Shulde I be led
With doblenesse?
Naye, naye, mistresse!
Sins faithe is dede
And truthe awaye
From you ys fled?
Shulde I be led
With doblenesse?
Naye, naye, mistresse!
221
I promisid you
And you promisid me
To be as true
As I wolde bee,
But sins I se
Your doble herte
Farewell, my perte.
And you promisid me
To be as true
As I wolde bee,
But sins I se
Your doble herte
Farewell, my perte.
Thought for to take
Yt ys not my minde
But to forsake
One so unkind
And as I finde
So will I truste.
Farewell, uniuste!
Yt ys not my minde
But to forsake
One so unkind
And as I finde
So will I truste.
Farewell, uniuste!
Can ye saye naye?
But you saide
That I allwaye
Shulde be obeide;
And thus betraide
Or that I wiste,
Fare well, unkiste!
But you saide
That I allwaye
Shulde be obeide;
And thus betraide
Or that I wiste,
Fare well, unkiste!
CCXVI
[Gyve place all ye that doth reioise]
Gyve place all ye that doth reioise
And loves panges dothe clene forgett;
Let them drawe nere and here my voyse
Whom love dothe force in paynes to frett.
For all of playnte my song is sett
Wiche long hathe seruid and nought can gett.
And loves panges dothe clene forgett;
Let them drawe nere and here my voyse
Whom love dothe force in paynes to frett.
For all of playnte my song is sett
Wiche long hathe seruid and nought can gett.
A faithefull herte so trulye mente
Rewardid is full slenderelye,
A stedfaste faithe with good entente
Ys recompensid craftelye
Such happe dothe happe vnhappelye
To them that mene but honestelye.
Rewardid is full slenderelye,
A stedfaste faithe with good entente
Ys recompensid craftelye
Such happe dothe happe vnhappelye
To them that mene but honestelye.
222
With humble sute I have assayde
To tourne her cruell-hertid minde
But for rewarde I am delaide
And to mye welthe her eyes be blinde
Lo thus bye chaunse I am assignid
With stedfaste love to serue the vnkinde.
To tourne her cruell-hertid minde
But for rewarde I am delaide
And to mye welthe her eyes be blinde
Lo thus bye chaunse I am assignid
With stedfaste love to serue the vnkinde.
What vaylithe trothe or stedfastness
Or still to serue without repreffe?
What vaylith faithe or gentilnesse,
Where crueltie dothe raine as chefe?
Alas there is no greter greef
Then for to love and lake releffe.
Or still to serue without repreffe?
What vaylith faithe or gentilnesse,
Where crueltie dothe raine as chefe?
Alas there is no greter greef
Then for to love and lake releffe.
Care dothe constraine me to complaine
Of love and her vncertaintye,
Wich grauntith nought but grete disdayne
For losse of all my libretye;
Alas, this is extremytye,
For love to finde suche crueltye!
Of love and her vncertaintye,
Wich grauntith nought but grete disdayne
For losse of all my libretye;
Alas, this is extremytye,
For love to finde suche crueltye!
For hertye love to finde suche hate,
Alas, it is a carefull lott
And for to voide so fowle a mate
There is no waye but slipp the knott;
The gayne so colde, the paine so hott
Prayse yt who list, I like yt not.
Alas, it is a carefull lott
And for to voide so fowle a mate
There is no waye but slipp the knott;
The gayne so colde, the paine so hott
Prayse yt who list, I like yt not.
CCXVII
[Dyvers dothe vse as I have hard and kno]
Dyvers dothe vse as I have hard and kno,Whan that to chaunge ther ladies do beginne
To mourne and waile and neuer for to lynne
Hoping therbye to pease ther painefull woe.
And some therbe that whan it chansith soo
That women change and hate where love hath bene,
Thei call them fals and think with woordes to wynne
The hartes of them wich otherwhere dothe gro.
223
Change hath outworne the favour that I had,
I will not wayle, lament, nor yet be sad,
Nor call her fals that falsley ded me fede,
But let it passe and think it is of kinde
That often chaunge doth plese a womans minde.
CCXVIII
[The losse is small to lese such one]
The losse is small to lese such oneThat shrynckith for a slendr naye;
And wyt thei lak that wolde mak mone
Tho all suche peakes ware wipid awaye.
CCXIX
[Spight hath no powre to make me sadde]
Spight hath no powre to make me sadde,
Nor scornefulnesse to make me playne
Yt doth suffise that ons I had,
And so to leve yt is no payne.
Nor scornefulnesse to make me playne
Yt doth suffise that ons I had,
And so to leve yt is no payne.
Let theim frowne on that leste doth gaine
Who ded reioise must nedes be gladd
And tho with wordis thou wenist to rayne,
Yt doth suffise that ons I had.
Who ded reioise must nedes be gladd
And tho with wordis thou wenist to rayne,
Yt doth suffise that ons I had.
Sins that in chekes thus overthwarte
And coylye lookis thou doste delight,
Yt doth suffise that myne thou wart;
Tho change hathe put thye faith to flight.
And coylye lookis thou doste delight,
Yt doth suffise that myne thou wart;
Tho change hathe put thye faith to flight.
Alas it is a pevishe spight
To yelde thi silf and then to parte;
But sins thou settst thie faithe so light,
Yt doth suffise that myne thou warte.
To yelde thi silf and then to parte;
But sins thou settst thie faithe so light,
Yt doth suffise that myne thou warte.
And sins thy love dothe thus declyne
And in thye herte suche hate dothe grow
Yt dothe suffise that thou warte myne
And with good will I quite yt soo.
And in thye herte suche hate dothe grow
Yt dothe suffise that thou warte myne
And with good will I quite yt soo.
224
Some tyme my frinde, fare well my fooe
Sins thou change I am not thyne,
But for relef of all my woo
Yt doth suffise that thou warte myne.
Sins thou change I am not thyne,
But for relef of all my woo
Yt doth suffise that thou warte myne.
Prayeng you all that heris this song
To iudge no wight, nor none to blame;
Yt dothe suffise she dothe me wrong,
And that herself doth kno the same.
To iudge no wight, nor none to blame;
Yt dothe suffise she dothe me wrong,
And that herself doth kno the same.
And tho she change, it is no shame;
Theire kinde it is, and hath bene long;
Yet I proteste she hathe no name:
Yt dothe suffise she dothe me wrong.
Theire kinde it is, and hath bene long;
Yet I proteste she hathe no name:
Yt dothe suffise she dothe me wrong.
CCXX
[Grudge on who list, this ys my lott]
Grudge on who list, this ys my lott,
No thing to want if it ware not.
My yeris be yong even as ye see;
All thinges thereto doth well agre;
Yn feithe, in face, in eche degre,
No thing doth want as semith me,
If yt ware not.
No thing to want if it ware not.
My yeris be yong even as ye see;
All thinges thereto doth well agre;
Yn feithe, in face, in eche degre,
No thing doth want as semith me,
If yt ware not.
Some men dothe saye that frindes be skace,
But I have founde as in this cace
A frinde wiche gyvith to no man place
But makis me happiest that euer was,
Yf yt ware not.
But I have founde as in this cace
A frinde wiche gyvith to no man place
But makis me happiest that euer was,
Yf yt ware not.
Groudge on who list, this is my lot,
No thing to want if yt ware not.
A hart I have besides all this
That hathe my herte and I have his;
If he dothe well yt is my blis
And when we mete no lak there is,
Yf yt ware not.
No thing to want if yt ware not.
A hart I have besides all this
That hathe my herte and I have his;
If he dothe well yt is my blis
And when we mete no lak there is,
Yf yt ware not.
225
Yf he can finde that can me please
A thinckes he dois his owne hertes ease,
And likewise I coulde well apease
The chefest cause of his misease
Yf yt ware not.
A thinckes he dois his owne hertes ease,
And likewise I coulde well apease
The chefest cause of his misease
Yf yt ware not.
Groudge on who list, this is my lot,
No thing to want if yt ware not.
A master eke god hath me sente
To whom my will is hollye bente
To serue and love for that intente
That bothe we might be well contente,
Yf yt ware not.
No thing to want if yt ware not.
A master eke god hath me sente
To whom my will is hollye bente
To serue and love for that intente
That bothe we might be well contente,
Yf yt ware not.
And here an ende that dothe suffise
To speke few wordes among the wise;
Yet take this note before your eyes,
My mirthe shulde doble ons or twise,
Yf yt were not.
To speke few wordes among the wise;
Yet take this note before your eyes,
My mirthe shulde doble ons or twise,
Yf yt were not.
Groudge on who liste, this is my lot
No thing to want if it ware not.
No thing to want if it ware not.
CCXXI
[Ffortune dothe frowne]
Ffortune dothe frowne:What remedye?
I am downe
Bye destenye.
CCXXII
[Greting to you bothe yn hertye wyse]
Greting to you bothe yn hertye wyse
As vnknowen I sende, and this mye entente
As I do here, you to aduertyse,
Lest that perchaunce your deades you do repente.
The unknowen man dredes not to be shente,
But sayes as he thinckes: so fares yt bye me
That nother ffere nor hope in no degree.
As vnknowen I sende, and this mye entente
As I do here, you to aduertyse,
Lest that perchaunce your deades you do repente.
The unknowen man dredes not to be shente,
But sayes as he thinckes: so fares yt bye me
That nother ffere nor hope in no degree.
226
The bodye and the sowle to holde togiddre,
Yt is but right and resone woll the same,
And ffryndelie the one to love the other
Yt incresith your brute and also your fame.
But marke well my wordes, for I fere no blame:
Truste well your selves but ware ye trust no mo,
For such as ye think your frinde maye fortune be your ffoe.
Yt is but right and resone woll the same,
And ffryndelie the one to love the other
Yt incresith your brute and also your fame.
But marke well my wordes, for I fere no blame:
Truste well your selves but ware ye trust no mo,
For such as ye think your frinde maye fortune be your ffoe.
Beware hardelye ere ye have enye nede,
And to frindes reconsilide trust not greatelye;
Ffor theye that ons with hasty spede
Exilid them selves out of your companye,
Though theye torne againe and speke swetlye,
Fayning them selves to be your frindes faste,
Beware of them for theye will disseyeve you at laste.
And to frindes reconsilide trust not greatelye;
Ffor theye that ons with hasty spede
Exilid them selves out of your companye,
Though theye torne againe and speke swetlye,
Fayning them selves to be your frindes faste,
Beware of them for theye will disseyeve you at laste.
Fayre wordes makis ffoolys fayne,
And bering in hande causith moche woo,
For tyme tryeth trothe, therefore refrayne:
And from suche as be redye to doo—
None doo I name but this I kno,
That bye this faute cause causith moche,
Therefore beware if ye do kno anye suche.
And bering in hande causith moche woo,
For tyme tryeth trothe, therefore refrayne:
And from suche as be redye to doo—
None doo I name but this I kno,
That bye this faute cause causith moche,
Therefore beware if ye do kno anye suche.
‘To wise folkes fewe wordes’ is an old sayeng;
Therefore at this tyme I will write nomore,
But this short lesson take fore a warninge:
Bye soche light frindes sett littill store;
Yf ye do othere wise ye will repent yt sore.
And thus of this lettre making an ende,
To the boddye and sowle I me commend.
Therefore at this tyme I will write nomore,
But this short lesson take fore a warninge:
Bye soche light frindes sett littill store;
Yf ye do othere wise ye will repent yt sore.
And thus of this lettre making an ende,
To the boddye and sowle I me commend.
Wryting lyfles at the manner place
Of him that hathe no chave nore no were dothe dwell,
But wandering in the wilde worlde, wanting that he hase,
And nother hopis nor ffearis heven nor hell;
But lyvith at adventure, ye kno him full well,
The twentie daye of marche he wrote yt yn his house,
And hathe him recommendyd to the kat and the mowse.
Of him that hathe no chave nore no were dothe dwell,
But wandering in the wilde worlde, wanting that he hase,
And nother hopis nor ffearis heven nor hell;
But lyvith at adventure, ye kno him full well,
The twentie daye of marche he wrote yt yn his house,
And hathe him recommendyd to the kat and the mowse.
227
CCXXIII
[Mye love toke skorne my servise to retaine]
Mye love toke skorne my servise to retaineWherein me thought she vsid crueltie:
Sins with good will I lost my libretye
To follow her wiche causith all my payne.
Might never care cause me for to refrayne
But onlye this wiche is extremytie,
Gyving me nought, alas, not to agree
That as I was, her man I might remayne.
But sins that thus ye list to ordre me
That wolde have bene your seruaunte true and faste,
Displese the not, my doting dayes bee paste,
And with my losse to leve I must agre;
For as there is a certeyne tyme to rage,
So ys there tyme suche madnes to asswage.
CCXXIV
[Tanglid I was yn loves snare]
Tanglid I was yn loves snare,
Opprest with payne, tormente with care,
Of grefe right sure, of Joye full bare,
Clene in dispaire bye crueltye;
But ha, ha, ha, full well is me,
For I am now at libretye.
Opprest with payne, tormente with care,
Of grefe right sure, of Joye full bare,
Clene in dispaire bye crueltye;
But ha, ha, ha, full well is me,
For I am now at libretye.
The wofull dayes so full of paine,
The werye night all spent in vayne,
The labor lost for so small gayne,
To wryt them all yt will not bee;
But ha, ha, ha, full well is me,
For I am now at libretye.
The werye night all spent in vayne,
The labor lost for so small gayne,
To wryt them all yt will not bee;
But ha, ha, ha, full well is me,
For I am now at libretye.
Everye thing that faire doth sho,
When prof is made yt provithe not soo,
But tournith mirthe to bittre woo,
Wiche in this case full well I see;
But ha, ha, ha, full well is me,
For I am now at libretye.
When prof is made yt provithe not soo,
But tournith mirthe to bittre woo,
228
But ha, ha, ha, full well is me,
For I am now at libretye.
To grete desire was my guide,
And wanton will went bye my syde;
Hope rulid still and made me byde
Of loves craft th'extremitye.
But ha, ha, ha, full well is me,
For I am now at libretye.
And wanton will went bye my syde;
Hope rulid still and made me byde
Of loves craft th'extremitye.
But ha, ha, ha, full well is me,
For I am now at libretye.
With faynid wordes wich ware but winde
To long delayes I was assind;
Her wylye lokes my wyttes ded blinde;
Thus as she wolde I ded agree.
But ha, ha, ha, full well is me,
For I am now at libretye.
To long delayes I was assind;
Her wylye lokes my wyttes ded blinde;
Thus as she wolde I ded agree.
But ha, ha, ha, full well is me,
For I am now at libretye.
Was never birde tanglid yn lyme,
That brake awaye yn bettre tyme,
Then I that rotten bowes ded clyme,
And had no hurte, but scaped fre.
Now ha, ha, ha, full well is me,
For I am nowe at libretye.
That brake awaye yn bettre tyme,
Then I that rotten bowes ded clyme,
And had no hurte, but scaped fre.
Now ha, ha, ha, full well is me,
For I am nowe at libretye.
CCXXV
[Lengre to muse]
Lengre to muse
On this refuse
I will not vse,
But studye to forget;
Letting all goo,
Sins well I kno
To be my foo
Her herte is fermelye sett.
On this refuse
I will not vse,
But studye to forget;
Letting all goo,
Sins well I kno
To be my foo
Her herte is fermelye sett.
Sins my entent
So trulye mente
Cannot contente
Her minde as I doo see,
To tell you playne
Yt ware yn vayne
For so small gaine
To lese my libretie.
So trulye mente
Cannot contente
Her minde as I doo see,
229
Yt ware yn vayne
For so small gaine
To lese my libretie.
For if he thryve
That will goo stryve
A shippe to dryve
Againste the streme and winde,
Vndoutedlye
Then thryve shuld I
To love trulye
A cruell-hertid mynde.
That will goo stryve
A shippe to dryve
Againste the streme and winde,
Vndoutedlye
Then thryve shuld I
To love trulye
A cruell-hertid mynde.
But sithe that so
The worlde dothe goo
That everye woo
Bye yelding doth incresse,
As I have tolde
I wilbe bolde
Therebye my paynis to cese.
The worlde dothe goo
That everye woo
Bye yelding doth incresse,
As I have tolde
I wilbe bolde
Therebye my paynis to cese.
Prayeng you all
That after shall
Bye fortune fall
Ynto this folishe trade,
Have yn your minde,
As I do finde,
That oft be kinde
All womens love do fade.
That after shall
Bye fortune fall
Ynto this folishe trade,
Have yn your minde,
As I do finde,
That oft be kinde
All womens love do fade.
Wherefore apace,
Come, take my place,
Some man that hase
A lust to berne the fete;
For sins that she
Refusith me,
I must agre
And studye to forgett.
Come, take my place,
Some man that hase
A lust to berne the fete;
For sins that she
Refusith me,
I must agre
And studye to forgett.
230
CCXXVI
[Now all of chaunge]
Now all of chaunge
Must be my songe
And from mye bonde nowe must I breke,
Sins she so strange
Vnto my wrong
Doth stopp her eris to here me speke.
Must be my songe
And from mye bonde nowe must I breke,
Sins she so strange
Vnto my wrong
Doth stopp her eris to here me speke.
Yet none doth kno
So well as she
My greefe wiche can have no restrainte;
That faine wolde follo
Nowe nedes must fle
For faute of ere vnto my playnte.
So well as she
My greefe wiche can have no restrainte;
That faine wolde follo
Nowe nedes must fle
For faute of ere vnto my playnte.
I am not he
Bye fals assayes
Nor faynid faith can bere in hande,
Tho most I see
That such alwaies
Are best for to be vndrestonde.
Bye fals assayes
Nor faynid faith can bere in hande,
Tho most I see
That such alwaies
Are best for to be vndrestonde.
But I that truth
Hath alwaies ment
Dothe still procede to serue in vayne;
Desire pursuithe
My tyme mispent,
And doth not passe vppon my payne.
Hath alwaies ment
Dothe still procede to serue in vayne;
Desire pursuithe
My tyme mispent,
And doth not passe vppon my payne.
O fortunes might
That eche compellis,
And me the most yt dothe suffise,
Now for my right
To aske nought ells
But to withdrawe this entreprise.
That eche compellis,
And me the most yt dothe suffise,
Now for my right
To aske nought ells
But to withdrawe this entreprise.
And for the gaine
Of that good howre,
Wiche of my woo shalbe relefe,
I shall refrayne
Bye paynefull powre
The thing that most hathe bene my grefe.
Of that good howre,
Wiche of my woo shalbe relefe,
231
Bye paynefull powre
The thing that most hathe bene my grefe.
I shall not misse
To exersyse
The helpe therof wich doth me teche,
That after this
In any wise
To kepe right within my reche.
To exersyse
The helpe therof wich doth me teche,
That after this
In any wise
To kepe right within my reche.
And she vniuste
Wich ferithe not,
Yn this her fame to be defilyd,
Yett ons I truste
Shalbe my lott,
To quite the crafte that me begild.
Wich ferithe not,
Yn this her fame to be defilyd,
Yett ons I truste
Shalbe my lott,
To quite the crafte that me begild.
CCXXVII
[I abide and abide and better abide]
I abide and abide and better abide,And after the olde prouerbe the happie daye;
And ever my ladye to me dothe saye
‘Let me alone and I will prouyde’.
I abide and abide and tarrye the tyde
And with abiding spede well ye maye;
Thus do I abide I wott allwaye,
Nother obtayning nor yet denied.
Aye me! this long abidyng
Semithe to me as who sayethe
A prolonging of a dieng dethe
Or a refusing of a desyrid thing:
Moche ware it bettre for to be playne,
Then to saye abide and yet shall not obtayne.
CCXXVIII
[Absens absenting causithe me to complaine]
Absens absenting causithe me to complaine;
My sorofull complayntes abiding in distresse
And departing most pryvie increasithe my paine;
Thus lyve I vncomfortid, wrappid all in hevines.
My sorofull complayntes abiding in distresse
And departing most pryvie increasithe my paine;
Thus lyve I vncomfortid, wrappid all in hevines.
232
In hevenes I am wrapid, devoyde of all solace,
Nother pastyme nor plesure can revyve my dull wytt;
My sprites be all taken, and dethe dothe me manace,
With his fatall knif the thrid for to kitt.
Nother pastyme nor plesure can revyve my dull wytt;
My sprites be all taken, and dethe dothe me manace,
With his fatall knif the thrid for to kitt.
Ffor to kit the thrid of this wretchid lif
And shortelye bring me owt of this cace;
I se yt avaylith not, yet must I be pensif,
Sins fortune from me hathe turnid her face.
And shortelye bring me owt of this cace;
I se yt avaylith not, yet must I be pensif,
Sins fortune from me hathe turnid her face.
Her face she hathe turnid with cowntenance contrarious,
And clene from her presens she hathe exilid me,
Yn sorrowe remayning as a man most dolorous,
Exempte from all pleasure and worldelye felicitie.
And clene from her presens she hathe exilid me,
Yn sorrowe remayning as a man most dolorous,
Exempte from all pleasure and worldelye felicitie.
All worldely felicitye nowe am I pryvate,
And left in deserte moste solitarilye,
Wandring all about, as one withowt mate:
My dethe aprochithe—what remedye?
And left in deserte moste solitarilye,
Wandring all about, as one withowt mate:
My dethe aprochithe—what remedye?
What remedye, alas, to reioise my wofull herte,
With sighis suspiring most rufullie?
Nowe wellcome! I am redye to deperte.
Fare well all plesure, welcome paine and smerte!
With sighis suspiring most rufullie?
Nowe wellcome! I am redye to deperte.
Fare well all plesure, welcome paine and smerte!
CCXXIX
[Patiens, for I have wrong]
Patiens, for I have wrongAnd dare not shew whereyn;
Patiens shalbe, my song,
Sins truthe can no thing wynne;
Patiens then for this fytt,
Hereafter comis not yett.
CCXXX
[Whan that I call vnto my mynde]
Whan that I call vnto my mynde
The tyme of hope that ons I hade,
The grete abuse that ded me blinde
Dothe force me allwaies to be sad;
Yet of my greef I fayne me glad
But am assurid I was to bolde
To truste to such a slipper holde.
The tyme of hope that ons I hade,
The grete abuse that ded me blinde
Dothe force me allwaies to be sad;
233
But am assurid I was to bolde
To truste to such a slipper holde.
I thought yt well that I had wrought
Willing forthewith so to ensue,
But he that sekis as I have sought
Shall finde most trust oft tymes vntrue;
For lest I reckte that most I rue,
Of that I thought my silf most sure
Ys nowe the wante of all mye cure.
Willing forthewith so to ensue,
But he that sekis as I have sought
Shall finde most trust oft tymes vntrue;
For lest I reckte that most I rue,
Of that I thought my silf most sure
Ys nowe the wante of all mye cure.
Amiddes my welthe I dede not reke
But sone alas or that I wiste
The tyme was come that all to weake
I had no powre for to resiste.
Nowe am I prof to theim that liste
To flee such woo and wrongfull paine
As in my herte I doo sustayne.
But sone alas or that I wiste
The tyme was come that all to weake
I had no powre for to resiste.
Nowe am I prof to theim that liste
To flee such woo and wrongfull paine
As in my herte I doo sustayne.
Ffor faynid faithe is alwaies free
And dothe inclyne to bee oniuste,
That sure I thinck there can none bee
To muche assurid without mistruste,
But happe what maye, to theim that muste
Sustaine suche cruell destenye
Wythe patiens for remedye.
And dothe inclyne to bee oniuste,
That sure I thinck there can none bee
To muche assurid without mistruste,
But happe what maye, to theim that muste
Sustaine suche cruell destenye
Wythe patiens for remedye.
As I am on wich bye restrainte
Abides the tyme of my retourne
Yn hope that fortune by my playnte
Wyll slake the fire wherewith I bourne
Sins no waies els may serue my tourne
Yet for the dowt of this distresse
I aske but right for my redresse.
Abides the tyme of my retourne
Yn hope that fortune by my playnte
Wyll slake the fire wherewith I bourne
Sins no waies els may serue my tourne
Yet for the dowt of this distresse
I aske but right for my redresse.
CCXXXI
[To make an ende of all this strif]
To make an ende of all this strif,
No lenger tyme for to sustaine,
But now withe dethe to chaung the lif
Of him that lyves alwaies in payne;
Dispaire suche powre hathe yn his hande,
That helpith most I kno certeyne
Maye not withstonde.
No lenger tyme for to sustaine,
But now withe dethe to chaung the lif
234
Dispaire suche powre hathe yn his hande,
That helpith most I kno certeyne
Maye not withstonde.
May not withstande that is electe
Bye fortunis most extremytie;
But all in worthe to be excepte
Withouten lawe or libretye;
What vaylithe then vnto my thought?
Yf right can have no remedie,
There vaylith nought.
Bye fortunis most extremytie;
But all in worthe to be excepte
Withouten lawe or libretye;
What vaylithe then vnto my thought?
Yf right can have no remedie,
There vaylith nought.
There vaylithe nought, but all in vaine;
The fawte thereof maye none amende,
But onlie dethe, for to constraine
This spightfull happe to have an ende:
So grete disdaine dothe me provoke
That drede of deth cannot deffende
This dedelye stroke.
The fawte thereof maye none amende,
But onlie dethe, for to constraine
This spightfull happe to have an ende:
So grete disdaine dothe me provoke
That drede of deth cannot deffende
This dedelye stroke.
This dedelie stroke, wherebye shall seace
The harborid sighis within my herte,
And for the gifte of this relese
My hand in haste shall playe his parte,
To doo this cure againste his kinde,
For chaunge of lif from long deserte
To place assignid.
The harborid sighis within my herte,
And for the gifte of this relese
My hand in haste shall playe his parte,
To doo this cure againste his kinde,
For chaunge of lif from long deserte
To place assignid.
To place assignid for ever more,
Nowe bye constrainte I do agre
To loose the bonde of my restore,
Wherein is bounde my liberte;
Dethe and dispaire doth vndretake
From all mishappe now hardelye
This ende to make.
Nowe bye constrainte I do agre
To loose the bonde of my restore,
Wherein is bounde my liberte;
Dethe and dispaire doth vndretake
From all mishappe now hardelye
This ende to make.
CCXXXII
[Wyll ye se what wonders love hathe wrought?]
Wyll ye se what wonders love hathe wrought?
Then come and loke at me;
There nede no where els to be sought,
Yn me ye maye theim see.
Then come and loke at me;
235
Yn me ye maye theim see.
Ffor vnto that that men maye see
Most monstruous thing of kinde
My self maye beste compared bee:
Love hathe me soo assignid.
Most monstruous thing of kinde
My self maye beste compared bee:
Love hathe me soo assignid.
There is a Rok in the salte floode,
A Rok of suche nature
That drawithe the yron from the woode
And levithe the shippe vnsure.
A Rok of suche nature
That drawithe the yron from the woode
And levithe the shippe vnsure.
She is the Rok, the shippe ame I.
That Rok my dedelie ffoo,
That drawithe me there, where I muste die
And Robbithe my harte me ffroo.
That Rok my dedelie ffoo,
That drawithe me there, where I muste die
And Robbithe my harte me ffroo.
A burde there fliethe and that but one,
Of her this thing enswethe,
That when her dayes be spent and gone,
Withe fyre she renewithe.
Of her this thing enswethe,
That when her dayes be spent and gone,
Withe fyre she renewithe.
And I withe her may well compare
My love that is alone
The flame whereof doth aye repare
My lif when yt is gone.
My love that is alone
The flame whereof doth aye repare
My lif when yt is gone.
CCXXXIII
[Deme as ye list vpon goode cause]
Deme as ye list vpon goode cause
I maye and think of this or that,
But what or whye my self best knowes,
Wherebye I thinck and fere not;
But there vnto I maye well link
The doubtefull sentence of this clause:
I wolde yt ware not as I think,
I wolde I thought yt ware not.
I maye and think of this or that,
But what or whye my self best knowes,
Wherebye I thinck and fere not;
But there vnto I maye well link
The doubtefull sentence of this clause:
I wolde yt ware not as I think,
I wolde I thought yt ware not.
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Ffor if I thought yt ware not soo,
Though yt ware so yt greved me not;
Vnto my thought yt ware as tho
I harkenid tho I here not.
At that I see I cannot wynk,
Nor from mye thought so let it goo:
I wolde yt ware not as I think,
I wolde I thought yt ware not.
Though yt ware so yt greved me not;
Vnto my thought yt ware as tho
I harkenid tho I here not.
At that I see I cannot wynk,
Nor from mye thought so let it goo:
I wolde yt ware not as I think,
I wolde I thought yt ware not.
Lo how my thought might make me free
Of that perchaunce that nedeth nott;
Perchaunce none doubte the drede I see,
I shrink at that I bere not;
But in my harte this worde shall sink
Vnto the proffe maye better be:
I wolde yt ware not as I think,
I wolde I thought yt ware not.
Of that perchaunce that nedeth nott;
Perchaunce none doubte the drede I see,
I shrink at that I bere not;
But in my harte this worde shall sink
Vnto the proffe maye better be:
I wolde yt ware not as I think,
I wolde I thought yt ware not.
Yf yt be not, shewe no cause whye
I shoulde so think, then care I not;
For I shall soo my self applie
To bee that I apere not;
That is as one that shall not shrink
To be your owne vntill I dye:
And if yt be not as I think,
Lyke wyse to think yt is not.
I shoulde so think, then care I not;
For I shall soo my self applie
To bee that I apere not;
That is as one that shall not shrink
To be your owne vntill I dye:
And if yt be not as I think,
Lyke wyse to think yt is not.
| Collected poems of Sir Thomas Wyatt | |