University of Virginia Library

Other Songes and sonettes written by sir Thomas wiat the elder

by
Thomas Wyatt
Tottel. Songes and Sonettes. 1557

What word is that

Of his loue called. Anna.

What word is that, that changeth not,
Though it be turned and made in twaine:
It is mine Anna god it wot.
The only causer of my paine:
My loue that medeth with disdaine.
Yet is it loued what will you more,
It is my salue, and eke my sore.

Venemous thornes

That pleasure is mixed with euery paine.

Venemous thornes that are so sharp and kene,
Beare flowers we se full fresh and faire of hue:
Poison is also put in medicine.
And vnto man his helth doth oft renue.
The fier that all thinges eke consumeth cleane
May hurt and heale: then if that this be true.
I trust sometime my harme may be my health,
Sins euery woe is ioyned with some wealth.

A lady gaue me a gift

A riddle of a gift geuen by a Ladie.

A Lady gaue me a gift she had not,
And I receyued her gift which I toke not,
She gaue it me willingly, and yet she would not,
and I receiued it, albeit, I could not,
If she giue it me, I force not,
And if she take it againe she cares not.
Conster what this is and tell not,
For I am fast sworne I may not.

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Dd2v

Speake thou and spede

That speaking or profering bringes alway speding.

Speake thou and spede where will or power ought helpthe,
Where power dothe want will must be wonne by welth.
For nede will spede, where will workes not his kinde,
And gayne, thy foes thy frendes shall cause thee finde.
For sute and golde, what do not they obtaine,
Of good and bad the triers are these twaine.

If thou wilt mighty be

He ruleth not though he raigne ouer realmes that is subiect to his owne lustes.

If thou wilt mighty be, flee from the rage
Of cruell wyll, and see thou kepe thee free
From the foule yoke of sensuall bondage,
For though thy empyre stretche to Indian sea,
And for thy feare trembleth the fardest Thylee,
If thy desire haue ouer thee the power,
Subiect then art thou and no gouernour.
If to be noble and high thy minde be meued,
Consider well thy grounde and thy beginnyng:
For he that hath eche starre in heanen

[_]

heauen

fixed,
And geues the Moone her hornes and her eclipsyng:
Alike hath made the noble in his workyng,
So that wretched no way thou may bee,
Except foule lust and vice do conquere thee.
All were it so thou had a flood of golde,
Vnto thy thirst yet should it not suffice.
And though with Indian stones a thousande folde,
More precious then can thy selfe deuise,
Ycharged were thy backe: thy couitise
And busye bytyng yet should neuer let,
Thy wretchid life ne do thy death profet.

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Dd3r

Lyke as the birde

whether libertie by losse of life, or life in prison and thraldome be to be preferred.

Lyke as the birde within the cage enclosed,
The dore vnsparred, her foe the hawke without,
Twixt death and prison piteously oppressed,
Whether for to chose standeth in doubt,
Lo, so do I, which seke to bryng about,
Which should be best by determinacion,
By losse of life libertie, or lyfe by pryson.
O mischiefe by mischiefe to be redressed.
Where payne is best there lieth but little pleasure.
By short death better to be deliuered,
Than bide in paynefull life, thraldome, and dolore.
Small is the pleasure where much payne we suffer.
Rather therfore to chuse me thinketh wisdome,
By losse of life libertye, then life by prison.
And yet me thinkes although I liue and suffer,
I do but wait a time and fortunes chance:
Oft many thinges do happen in one houre.
That which oppressed me now may me aduance.
In time is trust which by deathes greuance
Is wholy lost. Then were it not reason,
By death to chuse libertie, and not life by pryson.
But death were deliuerance where life lengthes paine.
Of these two euyls let se now chuse the best:
This birde to deliuer that here dothe playne,
What saye ye louers? whiche shall be the best?
In cage thraldome, or by the hawke opprest.
And whiche to chuse make plaine conclusion,
By losse of life libertie, or life by pryson.