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Portrait of Henry VIII in his 35th year. Artist unknown.

See below for enlargement.

 

 

IR THOMAS WYATT       

 

POEMS            (From the Devonshire manuscript. Part IIb.)

 

This is part of the web site of Shakespeare's sonnets

HAKESPEARE'S   ONNETS

 

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Thomas Wyatt

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SHAKESPEARE

Sonnets 1 - 50

Sonnets 51 - 100

Sonnets 101 - 154

text facsimiles

General notes

 

Views of London
as it was in 1616.
 London Bridge
As it was in Shakespeare's day, circa 1600.
     

 

The text of this edition is taken from The Poems of Sir Thomas Wiat edited by A.K. Foxwell, London 1913. The modern spelling version and the notes are provided by the Webmaster of this site. The notes are not intended to be exhaustive, but to provide the minimum assistance to students for whom the poems are new.

 

For a facsimile of the manuscript version of one of Wyatt's more famous poems, click here.

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Click on a number or a first line (see below) to go directly to a particular poem. Or just scroll down the page.

11, Hate whom ye list for I care not.

12, Grudge on who list, this is my lot

13, What should I say

14, Tangled I was in love's snare,

15, Longer to muse

16, Love doth again

17, With serving still

18, Now all of change

19, Driven by desire I did this deed,

20, Perdy I said it not

 

 

 

21
 
 

Absens absenting causithe me to complaine
    
My sorofull complayntes abiding in distresse
    
And departing most pryvie encreasithe my paine ;
   Thus lyve I uncomfortid, wrappid all in hevenes.

 

In hevenes I am wrappid, devoyde of all solace,
    
Nothr pastyme nor pleasure can revyve my dull wytt,
    
My sprites be all taken, and dethe doeth me menace,
   With his fatall knif the thrid for to kitt.

 

For to kitt the thrid of this wretchid liff
    
And shortelye bring me owt of this cace,
    
I se yt avaylith not, yet must I be pensif,
   Sins fortyne from me hathe turnid her face.

 

Her face she hathe turnid with cowntenance contrarious,
    
And clene from her presens she hath exiled me,
    
Yn sorowe remayning, as a man most dolorous,
   Exempte from all pleasure and worldelye felicitie.

 

All worldelye felicitye now am I pryvate,
    
And left in deserte most solitarelye,
    
Wandring all about, as on withoute mate ;
   My deth aprochith, what remedye :

 

What remedye, alas, to rejoise my wofull herte,
    
With sighis suspiring most rufullie ;
    
Nowe wellcome, I am redye to deperte,
   Farewell all plesure welcome paine and smerte.

Absence absenting causeth me to complain
    
My sorrowful complaints abiding in distress
    
And departing most privy increaseth my pain;
   Thus live I uncomforted, wrapped all in heaviness.

 

In heaviness I am wrapped, devoid of all solace,
    
N'other pastime nor pleasure can revive my dull wit,
    
My sprites be all taken, and deathth me menace,
   With his fatall knif the thrid for to kitt.

 

For to kitt the thrid of this wretchid liff
    
And shortelye bring me owt of this cace,
    
I se yt avaylith not, yet must I be pensif,
   Sins fortyne from me hathe turnid her face.

 

Her face she hathe turnid with cowntenance contrarious,
    
And clene from her presens she hath exiled me,
    
Yn sorowe remayning, as a man most dolorous,
   Exempte from all pleasure and worldelye felicitie.

 

All worldelye felicitye now am I pryvate,
    
And left in deserte most solitarelye,
    
Wandring all about, as on withoute mate ;
   My deth aprochith, what remedye :

 

What remedye, alas, to rejoise my wofull herte,
    
With sighis suspiring most rufullie ;
    
Nowe wellcome, I am redye to deperte,
   Farewell all plesure welcome paine and smerte.

 

 

NOTES

4 - 7. For as for me etc. = For I am not even like one who bothers to care whether you love or hate.

9. forget not - i.e. do not forget what I have just said.

12
 

Grudge on who liste, this ys my lott
  
No thing to want if it ware not

 


My yeris be yong even as ye see,
  
All thinges therto doeth well agre,
  
Yn faithe, in face, in eche degre
  
Nothing doth want as semith me,
                                        If yt ware not.

 

Som men dothe say that frendes be skarce,
  
But I have founde as in this cace
  
A frend wiche gyveth to no man place,
  
But makis me happiest that ever was,
                                        If it ware not.

 

Refrain
Grudge on who list this is my lot

  
No thing to want if yt ware not.

 

A hart I have besidis all this,
  
That hath my herte and I have his ;
  
If he doeth well yt is my blis,
  
And when we mete no lak ther is
                                        If it want not.

 

If he can finde that can me please,
  
A thinckes he dois his owne hertes ease ;
  
And likewise I could well apease
  
The chefest cause of his misease,
                                        If it ware not.

 

Refrain
Grudge on who liste, this is my lot

  
No thing to want if it ware not.

 

A master oke God hath me sente
  
To have my will, is hollye lent
  
To serve and love, for the entente
  
That bothe, we myght be well contente,
                                        If it ware not.

 

And here an end, it doeth suffise
  
To speke fewe wordes among the wise ;
  
Yet take this note before your eyes :
  
My mirth shulde double ons or twise
                                        If yt ware not.

 

Refrain
Grudge on who liste, this ys my lott

  
No thing to want if it ware not

 

Grudge on who list, this is my lot,
  
No thing to want if it were not.                               2

 


My years be young even as ye see,
  
All things thereto doth well agree,
  
In faith, in face, in each degree
  
Nothing doth want as seemeth me,                      6
                                        If it were not.

 

Some men doth say that friends be scarce,
  
But I have found as in this case
  
A friend which giveth to no man place,
  
But makes me happiest that ever was,              11
                                        If it were not.

 

Refrain
Grudge on who list this is my lot,
  
No thing to want if it were not.                            14

 

A heart I have besides all this,
  
That hath my heart and I have his;
  
If he doth well it is my bliss,
  
And when we meet no lack there is                   18
                                        If it were not.

 

If he can find that can me please,
  
A thinks he does his own heart's ease,
  
And likewise I could well appease
  
The chiefest cause of his misease,                      23
                                        If it were not.

 

Refrain
Grudge on who list, this is my lot
  
No thing to want if it were not.                           26

 

A master eke God hath me sent
  
To whom my will is wholly bent
  
To serve and love, for the intent
  
That both we might be well content,                  30
                                        If it were not.

 

And here an end, it doth suffice
  
To speak few words among the wise;
  
Yet take this note before your eyes:
  
My mirth should double once or twice             35
                                        If it were not.

 

Refrain
Grudge on who list, this is my lot,
  
No thing to want if it were not                              38

 

 

NOTES

The meaning of this poem hinges on the enigmatic phrase in the refrain 'If it were not'. The speaker is a woman (See l.16). The mysterious 'it' which prevents the lady from experiencing happiness to the full is possibly her undesired marriage or betrothal to another man.

1. lot = fate.

2. to want = to lack; to desire.

4. All things thereto etc. = Everything else is in harmony with my youth, i.e. trust (in the beloved), appearance,

5. in each degree = in all divisions and , in all ways.

10. giveth to no man place = is superior to all others.

15. heart = sweetheart, lover.

16. that hath my heart and I have his - This shows that the phrase '(He) (My true love) hath my heart and I have his' was current long before Sidney made it famous.

18. no lack there is = (?) there is no lack of anything; all is joyousness.

19. If it were not - Foxwell gives 'If it want not', possibly a mis-reading.

20. that = that which.

21. A thinks = he thinks. 'a' for 'he ' was a common usage of the time.

22. appease = satisfy.

23. The chiefest cause etc. - Perhaps her inability to marry him.

27. eke = also. However Foxwell gives 'oke' which presumably is taken to be a mistake by later editors. (Muir gives eke). I think it would be possible to construe this phrase as 'a master oak' to which the holly is subservient. Holly trees do grow in oak woods, sometimes under the oak itself.

29. intent = intention, purpose.

33. That the wise need few words is proverbial.

 

 

13
  
 
 

 

Greting to you both yn hertye wyse
  
As unknowen I sende, and this mye entente
  As I do here, you to advertyse,
  
Lest that perchaunce your deades you do repente.
  
The unknowen man dredes not to be shente
  But sayes as he thinks : so fares it bye me.
  That nother ffere nor hope in no degre.

 

The bodye and the sowle is helde togidder,
  
Yt is but right, and reason woll the same,
  And fryndelie the oon to love the other,
  
Yt encresith your beautye and also your fame ;
  
But marke well my wordes, for I fere no blame,
  Truste well yourselves, but ware ye trust no mo
  For suche as ye think your frende, may fortune be
                                                                            your ffoo.

 

Beware frendelye ere ye have enye nede,
  
And to frendes reconsilide trust not greatelye ;
  For they that ons with hastie spede
  
Exiled themselves oute of your companye,
  
Tho theye torne againe and speke farelye,
  Fayning themselves to be your frendes faste
  Beware of them for thye will disseyve you
                                                                         at laste.

 

Fayre wordes makis foolys 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 by this faute cause causith moche,
  Therefore beware if yo do know anye suche.

 

"To wise folkes few wordes" is an old sayeng,
  
Therfore at this tyme I will write nomore,
  But this short lesson take for a warning,
  
By soche light frendes set litill store ;
  
If ye do otherwise ye will repent it sore ;
  And thus of this lettre making an ende,
  To the boddye and the sowle I me commend.

 

Wryting lyfles at the manner place
  
Of him that hath no chave nor nowere dothe dwell ;
  But wandering in the wilde worlde wanting that he hase,
  
And nothr hopis nor fearis heven nor hell ;
  
But lyveth 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.

 

Greeting to you both in hearty wise
  
As unknown I send, and this my intent
  As I do here, you to advertise,
  
Lest that perchance your deeds you do repent.
  
The unknown man dreads not to be shent         5
  But says as he thinks: so fares it by me.
  That neither fear nor hope in no degree.            
7

 

The body and the soul is held together,
  
It is but right, and reason will the same,
  And friendly the one to love the other,             
10
  
It increaseth your beauty and also your fame;
  
But mark well my words, for I fear no blame,
  Trust well yourselves, but ware ye trust no mo,    
13
  For such as ye think your friend, may fortune be
                                                        your foe.

 

 

Beware friendly ear ye have any need,
  
And to friends reconciled trust not greatly;
  For they that once with hasty speed
  
Exiled themselves out of your company,              18
  
Though they turn again and speak fairly,
  Feigning themselves to be your friends fast          
20
  Beware of them for they will deceive you at last.

 

Fair words makes fools fain,
  
And bearing in hand causeth much woe;
  For time trieth truth, therefore refrain,               
24
  
And from such as be ready to do -
  
None do I name but this I know,
  That by this fault cause causeth much,
  Therefore beware if you do know any such.       
28

 

"To wise folks few words" is an old saying,
  
Therefore at this time I will write no more,        30
  But this short lesson take for a warning,
  
By such light friends set little store;
  
If ye do otherwise ye will repent it sore,
  And thus of this letter making an end,                
34
  To the body and the soul I me commend.

 

Writing lifeless at the manor place                       36
  
Of him that hath no chaff nor nowhere doth dwell,
  But wandering in the wild world, wanting that he has,
  
And neither hopes nor fears heaven nor hell,
  
But liveth at adventure, ye know him full well.   40
  The twentieth day of March he wrote it in his house,
  And hath him recommended to the cat and the
                                                                   mouse.

   

 

NOTES


1-3. It is thought that the poem might be addressed to the body and soul (you both), sent by a departed spirit. It probably depends on a lost original, for it contains typical moralistic advice to those setting out on life's voyage, advice which was not uncommon at the time and was often full of disguised cynicism.

3. advertise = warn. Lines 1-3 are probably corrupt.

5. the unknown man = the speaker (who, being a spirit, addresses the generality of mankind, but remains unknown).
shent = castigated, reproached.

7. in no degree = in no way.

9. reason will = reason desires.

10. friendly the one = it is a friendly thing for the one etc.

13. ware = beware.         mo = more.

14. may fortune = may by chance.

15. friendly ear etc = that you have any need of a friendly ear (which may deceive you).

22. makes fools fain = makes willing fools.

23. bearing in hand = hoodwinking.

24. refrain = hold back.

25. such as be ready to do = (?) those who advertise themselves to you as friends.

27. this fault = (?) fair speaking, which can be deceitful.
cause causeth much = (?) there arises much grief.

35. the body and soul - the supposed addressees of the poem.

36. Writing lifeless = written by one who has departed this life.       At the manor place - The line is a sort of 'signing off' typical of letters of the period. 'Written by such and such at such and such place'.

37. chaff = provender, income. 36-8 are ironical. 'Written by him whose manor is nowhere, who has no house or sustenance, nor need of anything, but wanders the wide world as a disembodied spirit'.

40. at adventure = with whatever chance sends.

42. Of doubtful meaning. Perhaps it suggests that he is prepared for whatever comes, having backed both sides. The phrase is probably proverbial.

 

 

14

 

Tanglid I was in loves snare,
  
Oprest with payne, torment 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 libertye.

 

The wofull daye so full of paine,
  
The werye nyght all spent in vayne,
  
The labor lost for so small gayne ;
  
To wryte them all yt wyll not be,
  
But ha ! ha ! ha ! full well is me,
  
For I am now at libertye.

 

Everything that faire doeth sho,
  
When prof is made it proveth not soo,
  
But torneth mirthe to bittre woo,
  
Wich in this case full well I see ;
  
But ha ! ha ! ha ! full well is me
  
For I am now at libertye.

 

To grete desire was my guide,
  
And wanton wyll went bye my syde ;
  
Hope rulid still, and made me byde
  
Of loves craft thextremitye.
  
But ha ! ha ! ha ! full well is me
  
For I am now at libertye.

 

With faynid wordes that 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 libertye.

 

Was never birde tanglid in lyme,
  
That brake awaye yn better tyme,
  
Then I that rotten bowes ded clyme,
  
And had no hurte but scaped fre.
  
But ha ! ha ! ha ! full well is me
  
For I am nowe at libertye.

 

Tangled I was in love's snare,
  
Opressed with pain, torment with care,
  
Of grief right sure, of joy full bare,
  
Clean in despair by cruelty,                              4
  
But ha! ha! ha! full well is me,
  
For I am now at liberty.                                    6

 

The woeful day so full of pain,
  
The weary night all spent in vain,
  
The labour lost for so small gain:
  
To write them all it will not be,                         10
  
But ha! ha! ha! full well is me,
  
For I am now at liberty.                                   12

 

Everything that fair doth show,
  
When proof is made it proveth not so,
  
But turneth mirth to bitter woe,
  
Which in this case full well I see.                        16
  
But ha! ha! ha! full well is me,
  
For I am now at liberty.                                   18

 

Too great desire was my guide,
  
And wanton will went by my side;
  
Hope ruled still, and made me bide
  
Of love's craft th'extremity.                               22
  
But ha! ha! ha! full well is me,
  
For I am now at liberty.                                    24

 

With feigned words that were but wind,
  
To long delays I was assiged.
  
Her wily looks my wits did blind;
  
Thus as she would I did agree.                         28
  
But ha! ha! ha! full well is me,
  
For I am now at liberty.                                    30

 

Was never bird tangled in lime,
  
That brake away in better time,
  
Than I that rotten boughs did climb,
  
And had no hurt but scaped free.                     34
  
But ha! ha! ha! full well is me,
  
For I am now at liberty.                                   36

 

 

NOTES


2. torment = tormented.

10. to write them all = to describe them all (My pains and sorrows).

14. proof = test.    proveth = turns out to be.    

20. wanton will = unbridled desires, lust.

21. bide = endure.

22. the extremes to which love's deceits bring the lover.

28. as she would I did agree = I did as she bid me.

31. lime = birdlime, a viscous sticky substance prepared from the bark of the holly and used to catch small birds. (OED 1a).

32. That brake away = which escaped.

34. scaped = escaped.

 

15

 

Longer to muse
  
On this refuse
  
I will not use,
  
But studye to forget ;
  
Lett my all goo,
  
Sins well I kno,
  
To be my foo
  
Her herte is fermely sett.

 

Sins my entente,
  
So trulye mente,
  
Cannot contente
  
Her minde as I do see ;
  
To tell you playne,
  
Yt ware in vayne,
  
For so small gaine
  
To lose my libertie,

 

For if he thryve
  
That will go stryve
  
A shipp to dryve
  
Againste the streme and winde,
  
Undoutedlye
  
Then thryve shulde I
  
To love trulye
  
A cruel hertid mynde.

 

But sith that so
  
The worlde doeth goo
  
That everye woo
  
By yelding doth incresse,
  
As I have tolde
  
I wilbe bolde
  
Therbye my paynis to cese.

 

Praying 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.

 

Wherefore a pace
  
Come, take my place,
  
Some man that hase
  
A lust to berne the fete ;
  
For sins that she
  
Refusith me,
  
I must agre
  
And perdye to forgett.

 

Longer to muse
  
On this refuse
  
I will not use,
  
But study to forget;                   4
  
Let my all go,
  
Since well I know,
  
To be my foe     
  
Her heart is firmly set.               8

 

Since my intent,
  
So truly meant,
  
Cannot content
  
Her mind as I do see;              12
  
To tell you plain,
  
It were in vain,
  
For so small gain
  
To lose my liberty.                 16

 

For if he thrive
  
That will go strive
  
A ship to drive
  
Against the stream and wind,  20
  
Undoubtedly
  
Then thrive should I
  
To love truly
  
A cruel hearted mind.             24

 

But sith that so
  
The world doth go
  
That every woe
  
By yielding doth increase,       28
  
As I have told
  
I will be bold
  * * * * *
  
Thereby my pains to cease.     32

 

Praying you all
  
That after shall
  
By fortune fall
  
Into this foolish trade,             36
  
Have in your mind
  
As I do find,
  
That oft by kind
  
All women's love do fade.      40

 

Wherefore apace
  
Come, take my place,
  
Some man that has
  
A lust to burn the feet;           44
  
For since that she
  
Refuseth me,
  
I must agree
  
And perdy to forget.             48

 

 

NOTES


2. refuse = refusal.

3. Iwill not use = I will not habituate myself; I will not.

17. If he thrive = If there is any man who could thrive.

25. sith = since.

28. yielding = (?) giving in to the demands of she who causes the woe.

31. The rhyme scheme suggests that a line is missing.

36. trade = way of life.

39. by kind = according to their nature.

44. A lust to burn the feet - i.e. by dipping his feet into hot water.

 

16

 

Love doth againe
  
Put me to payne
  
And yet all is but lost,
  
I serve yn vayne
  
And am certayne
  
Of all, mislikid most.

 

Both heate and colde
  
Doth so me holde
  
And combred so my minde,
  
That when I shulde
  
Speke and beholde
  
It dryveth me still behinde.

 

My wittis be paste,
  
My lif doeth waste,
  
My comforte is exild,
  
And I in haste
  
Am lyke to taste
  
How love hathe me begilde.

 

Onles that right
  
May yn her sight
  
Obtaine pitye and grace,
  
Whye shulde a wight
  
Have bewtye bright
  
Yf mercye have no place ?

 

Yett I alas
  
Am in soche cace
  
That bak I cannot goo,
  
But still forth trace
  
A patiente pace
  
And suffre secret woo.

 

Ffor with the winde
  
My fyred mynde
  
Doth still inflame,
  
And she unkinde
  
That ded me binde
  
Doth torne yt all to game.

 

Yet may no payne
  
Make me refraine
  
Nor here and there to range,
  
I shall retaine
  
Hope to obtayne
  
Her hert that is so straunge.

 

But I require
  
The paynefull fire
  
That oft doth make me swete,
  
For all my yre,
  
Withe lyke desire
  
To gyve her herte a hete

 

Then shall she prove
  
Howe I her love,
  
And what I have offerde,
  
Whiche shulde her move
  
For to remove
  
The paynes I have suffrd.

 

And better ffe
  
Than she gave me
  
She shall of me attayne,
  
For whereas she
  
Showde crueltye,
  
She shall my hert obtayne.

 

Love doth again
  
Put me to pain
  
And yet all is but lost.                  3
  
I serve in vain
  
And am certain
  
Of all, misliked most.                   6

 

Both heat and cold
  
Doth so me hold
  
And cumbers so my mind,         9
  
That when I should
  
Speak and behold
  
It driveth me still behind.              12

 

My wits be past,
  
My life doth waste,
  
My comfort is exiled,                   15
  
And I in haste
  
Am like to taste
  
How love hath me beguiled.         18

 

Unless that right
  
May in her sight
  
Obtain pity and grace,                  21
  
Why should a wight
  
Have beauty bright
  
If mercy have no place?                24

 

Yet I alas
  
Am in such case
  
That back I cannot go,                  27
  
But still forth trace
  
A patient pace
  
And suffer secret woe.                  30

 

For with the wind
  
My fired mind
  
Doth still inflame,                           33
  
And she unkind
  
That did me bind
  
Doth turn it all to game.                  36 

 

Yet may no pain
  
Make me refrain
  
Nor here and there to range,          39
  
I shall retain
  
Hope to obtain
  
Her heart that is so strange.            42

 

But I require
  
The painful fire
  
That oft doth make me sweat,          45
  
For all my ire,
  
With like desire
  
To give her heart a heat.                  48

 

Then shall she prove
  
How I her love,
  
And what I have offered,                  51 
  
Which should her move              
  
For to remove
  
The pains I have suffered.               54

 

And better fee
  
Than she gave me
  
She shall of me attain,                       57
  
For whereas she
  
Showed cruelty,
  
She shall my heart obtain.                 60

 

 

NOTES


12. driveth me still behind = always drives me away from her.

13. My wits be past = I am at my wit's end.

22. a wight = a person (in this case the woman).

33. inflame = burn.

36. turn it all to game = makes a sport of the whole thing.

42. strange = foreign, like a stranger.

49. prove = make trial of.

55. better fee = a better reward, pay off.

 

17

 

 

With serving still
  
This have I wone,
  
For my goodwyll
  
To be undon.

 

And for redress
  
Of all my payne,
  
Disdaynefulnes
  
I have againe.

 

And for reward
  
Of all my smarte,
  
Lo, thus unharde
  
I must departe !

 

Wherefore all ye
  
That after shall
  
Bye ffortune be
  
As I am, thrall,

 

Example take,
  
What I have won
  
Thus for her sake
  
To be undone !

 

 

With serving still
  
This have I won,
  
For my goodwill
  
To be undone.                4

 

And for redress
  
Of all my pain,
  
Disdainfulness
  
I have again.                   8

 

And for reward
  
Of all my smart,
  
Lo, thus unheard
  
I must depart!                12

 

Wherefore all ye
  
That after shall
  
By fortune be
  
As I am, thrall,                16

 

Example take,
  
What I have won
  
Thus for her sake
  
To be undone!                20

 

 

NOTES

 

14. That after shall = who shall, in future times.

 

18

 

Now all of change
  
Must be my songe,
  
And from mye bonde nowe must I breke,
  
Sins she so strange
  
Unto my wrong
  
Doth stop her eris to here me speke.

 

Yet none doth kno
  
So well as she
  
My greffe wiche can have no restrainte ;
  
That faine wolde follo
  
Nowe nedes must fle,
  
For faute of ere unto my playnte.

 

I am not he
  
By fals assayes
  
Nor faynid faith can bere in hande,
  
Tho most I see
  
That such alwaies
  
Are best for to be understonde.

 

But I that truth
  
Hath alwaies mente,
  
Doeth still procede to serve in vayne,
  
Desire pursuith
  
My tyme mispent,
  
And doeth not passe upon my payne.

 

O fortunes might
  
That each compellis,
  
And me the most yt doeth suffice
  
Now for my ryght
  
To aske nought ells,
  
But to withdraw this enterprise :

 

And for the gaine
  
Of that good howre,
  
Wiche of my woo shall be relefe,
  
I shall refrayne
  
Bye paynefull powre,
  
The thing that must have bene my grefe.

 

I shall not miss
  
To exersyse
  
The helpe therof that doth me teche,
  
That after this
  
In any wise
  
To kepe ryght within my reche.

 

And she injuste,
  
Which ferith not,
  
Yn this her fame to be defilyd,
  
Yett ons I trust
  
Shalbe my lott,
  
To quite the craft that me begilid.

 

Now all of change
  
Must be my song,
  
And from my bond now must I break,
  
Since she so strange                                        4
  
Unto my wrong
  
Doth stop her ears to hear me speak.               6

 

Yet none doth know
  
So well as she
  
My grief which can have no restraint;
  
That fain would follow                                     10
  
Now needs must flee,
  
For fault of ear unto my plaint.                         12

 

I am not he
  
By false assays
  
Nor feigned faith can bear in hand,
  
Though most I see                                           16
  
That such always
  
Are best for to be understond.                         18

 

But I that truth
  
Hath always meant,
  
Doth still proceed to serve in vain,
  
Desire pursueth                                               22
  
My time misspent,
  
And doth not pass upon my pain.                     24

 

O fortune's might
  
That each compels,
  
And me the most. It doth suffice
  
Now for my right                                              28
  
To ask nought else,
  
But to withdraw this enterprise.                        30

 

And for the gain
  
Of that good hour,
  
Which of my woe shall be relief,
  
I shall refrain                                                     34
  
By painful power,
  
The thing that most hath been my grief.              36

 

I shall not miss
  
To exercise
  
The help thereof that doth me teach,
  
That after this                                                    40
  
In any wise
  
To keep right within my reach.                           42

 

And she injust,
  
Which feareth not,
  
In this her fame to be defiled,
  
Yet once I trust                                                 46
  
Shall be my lot,
  
To quit the craft that me beguiled.                      48

 

 

NOTES

6. stop her ears to hear me = stops up her ears to prevent herself from hearing me.

12. fault of = lack of.

15. bear in hand = use deceit, hoodwink.

18. understond = understood. I.e. those who use deceit are more likely to be accepted.

22-24. Desire harasses me through all my misspent time, and it cares not about my pain.

30. to withdraw this enterprise = to cease this pursuit of love.

34. refrain = refrain from (seeing).

35. painful power = by exercesing will power, though it causes pain to do so.

37-8. miss / To exercise = fail to make use of .

41. In any wise = in any way I can.

42. right = justice, good sense.

45. her fame = (?) her beauty, her reputation.

45. to be defiled - the suggestion seems to be that her reputation will be tainted by the poet abandoning her.

46. once = on one occasion at least; at last.

48. to quit the craft = to requite the deceit, to have my revenge.

 

19

 
Dryven bye desire I dede this dede,
  
To daunger myself without cause whye,
  
To trust the untrue not lyke to spede,
  
To speke and promise faithefullie.
  
But now the proof dothe verifie,
  
That who so trustithe ere he kno,
  
Doth hurte himself and please his ffoo.
  Driven by desire I did this deed,
  
To danger myself without cause why,
  
To trust the untrue not like to speed,
  
To speak and promise faithfully.                   4
  
But now the proof doth verify,
  
That who so trusteth ere he know,
  
Doth hurt himself and please his foe.            7
 

 

NOTES

 

3. untrue = untruthful (person).       not like to speed = unlikely to succeed.

5. proof = outcome, experience.

 

 

20

 

Perdye I saide it not
  
Nor never thought to do,
  
As well as I ye wott,
  
I have no powre therto :
  
And if I ded, the lott
  
That first ded me enchain
  
Do never slake the knott,
  But strayte it to my payne.

 

And if I ded, eche thing
  
That maye do harme or woo,
  
Contynuallye maye wring
  
My herte wherso I goo ;
  
Reporte may alwayes ring
  
Of shame of me for aye,
  
Yf yn my herte ded spring
  The worde that ye doo saye.

 

If I saide so, eche sterre
  
That is in heven above,
  
Maye frowne on me to marre
  
The hope I have yn love ;
  
And if I ded, such warre
  
As they brought out of Troye,
  
Bring all my lyff afarre
  From all this lust and joye.

 

And if I ded so say,
  
The bewtye that me bound,
  
Encresst from daye to daye
  
More cruell to my wounde ;
  
With all the mone that may,
  
To playnte may torn my song ;
  
My lif may sone dekay,
  Without redresse bye wrong.

 

Yf I be clere fro thought
  
Whye do ye then complaine ?
  
Then ys this thing but sought
  
To torne me to more payne.
  
Then that that ye have wrought,
  
Ye must it now redresse,
  
Of right therfore ye ought,
  Such rigor to represse.

 

And as I have deservid,
  
So graunte me nowe my hire ;
  
Ye kno I never swervid,
  
Ye never fownd me lyre.
  
For Rachell have I servid,
  
(For Lya carid I never)
  
And her have I reservid
  Within my herte for ever.

 

Perdy I said it not
  
Nor never thought to do,
  
As well as I ye wot,
  
I have no power thereto.                  4
  
And if I did, the lot
  
That first did me enchain
  
Do never slack the knot,
  But strait it to my pain.                     
8

 

And if I did, each thing
  
That may do harm or woe,
  
Continually may wring
  
My heart whereso I go;                   12
  
Report may always ring
  
Of shame of me for aye,
  
If in my heart did spring
  The word that ye do say.                 
16

 

If I said so, each star
  
That is in heaven above,
  
May frown on me to mar
  
The hope I have in love;                   20
  
And if I did, such war
  
As they brought out of Troy,
  
Bring all my life afar
  From all this lust and joy.                 
24

 

And if I did so say,
  
The beauty that me bound,
  
Increase from day to day
  
More cruel to my wound;                 28
  
With all the moan that may,
  
To plaint may turn my song;
  
My life may soon decay,
  Without redress, by wrong.               
32

 

If I be clear from thought
  
Why do ye then complain?
  
Then is this thing but sought
  
To turn me to more pain.                  36
  
Then that that ye have wrought,
  
Ye must it now redress,
  
Of right therefore ye ought,
  Such rigour to repress.                      
40

 

And as I have deserved,
  
So grant me now my hire;
  
Ye know I never swerved,
  
Ye never found me liar.                     44
  
For Rachel have I served,
  
(For Leah cared I never)
  
And her have I reserved
  Within my heart for ever.                   
48

 

 

NOTES

 

The poem is based loosely on a canzone by Petrarch. Wyatt modifies the original and gives it more directness. He is defending himself against the charge, made by his mistress, that he said he loved someone else, or said he did not love her.

1. Perdy = by God! a mild oath.

2. Nor never thought = (I neither said it), nor did I even think it.

3. As well as I etc. = You know as well as I do.       

4. thereto = in that respect, with regard to that.

5. the lot = the fate.

7. Do never = does not ever (i.e. his fate does not release him).

8. strait = tightens (the knot).

11. may wring = let it wring.

12. whereso = wheresoever.

23. Bring all my life afar = may it take me far away from.

27. Increase = let it increase.

28. More cruel to etc. = so that it hurts me even more than it does at present, (by its cruelty).

32. by wrong - i.e. the wrong you do to me will cause my life to wither and decay.

37. that that = that harm which

42. grant me now my hire = pay me (for my just deserts).

45-6. Rachel ... Leah = Biblical names which stand in place of the beloved lady, and the other whom he is supposed to have swerved toward. I.e. I have always been faithful to you alone. Leah contains a pun on 'liar'.

47. reserved = kept aside, kept separate.

 

   
 

 

Thomas Wyatt

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Portrait miniature of Henry VIII in his 35th year.
 
 

Artist unknown.
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