Later poems I (after 1536)
A TRILOGY ON LOVE
PART I
Lo, what it is to love!
Learn ye, that list to prove,
At me I say,
No ways that may 4
The grounded grief remove,
My life alway
That doth decay.
Lo! what it is to love. 8
Flee alway from the snare,
Learn by me to beware
Of such a train
Which doubles pain, 12
And endless woe and care
That doth retain;
Which to refrain
Flee alway from the snare. 16
To love and to be wise,
To rage with good advice,
Now thus, now then,
Now off, now on, 20
Uncertain as the dice;
There is no man
At once that can
To love and to be wise. 24
Such are the diverse throes,
Such, that no man knows
That hath not proved,
And once have loved. 28
Such are the raging woes:
Sooner reproved
Than well removed,
Such are the diverse throes. 32
Love is a fervent fire
Kindled by hot desire;
For a short pleasure,
Long displeasure; 36
Repentance is the hire.
A poor treasure,
Without measure.
Love is a fervent fire. 40
Lo! what it is to love!
PART I
Lo, what it is to love !
Lerne ye, that list to prove,
At me I say,
No ways that may
The grownd is greiff remove,
My liff alwaie,
That doeth decaye ;
Lo ! what it is to love.
Ffle alwaye from the snare,
Lerne by me to beware,
Of suche a trayne,
Which doubles payne,
And endles woo and care,
That doth retayne ;
Which to refrayne,
Fle alwaye from the snare.
To love and to be wise,
To rage with good admyse,
Now thus now than
Now of now an
Uncerteyn as the dyse ;
There is no man
At ons that can
To love and to be wise.
Suche are the dyvers throws,
Suche, that no man knows
That hath no profd,
And ons have losd :
Suche are the raging woos :
Soner reprofd
Then well remofd,
Suche are the dyvers throws.
Love is a fervent fire
Kendeld by hote desire,
For a short pleasure,
Long displeasur ;
Repentaunce is the hire ;
A poure tresoure,
Withoute mesure,
Love is a fervent fire.
Lo ! what it is to love, etc.
NOTES
PART II
Leave thus to slander love!
Though evil with such it prove
Which often use
Love to misuse, 4
And loving to reprove.
Such cannot chose,
For their refuse,
But thus, to slander love. 8
Flee not so much the snare -
Love seldom causeth care,
But by deserts
And crafty parts, 12
Some leese their own welfare.
Be true of hearts,
And for no smarts
Flee not so much the snare. 16
To love and not to be wise
Is but a mad device.
Such love doth last
As sure and fast 20
As chance on the dice.
A bitter taste
Comes at the last,
To love and not to be wise. 24
Such be the pleasant days,
Such be the honest ways.
There is no man,
That fully can 28
Know it, but that he says
Loving to ban
Were folly then!
Such be the pleasant days. 32
Such is a pleasant fire,
Kindled by true desire.
And though the pain
Cause men to plain 36
Speed well is oft the hire.
Then though some feign
And leese the gain,
Love is a pleasant fire. 40
PART II
Leve thus to slander love !
Though evill, with suche it prove
Which often use
Love to mysuse,
And loving to reprove ;
Such cannot chose,
For their refuse,
But thus, to slaunder love.
Ffle not so much the snare ;
Love sildam causeth care ;
But by deserftes
And crafty partes,
Som lese their owne welfar ;
Be true of hertes,
And for no smartes
Fle not so much the snare
To love and not to be wise
Is but a mad devise ;
Such love doeth last
As sure and fast
As chaunce on the dyse ;
A bitter tast
Coms at the last,
To love and not to be wise.
Such be the plaisaunt daies,
Such be the honest wayes ;
There is no man,
That fully can
Know it, but he that sayes
Loving to ban
Were folly than !
Such be the pleasaunt daies.
Such is a plaisaunt fire,
Kyndeled by true desire ;
And though the payne
Cause men to playne
Sped well is oft the hiere.
Then though some fayne
And lese the gayne
Love is a pleasaunt fire.
NOTES
PART III
Who most doth slander love
The deed must alway prove.
Truth shall excuse
That you accuse, 4
For slander and reprove;
Not by refuse,
But by abuse
You most do slander love. 8
Ye grant it is a snare
And would us not beware.
Lest that your train
Should be too plain, 12
Ye colour all the care.
Lo, how you feign,
Pleasure for pain,
And grant it is a snare. 16
To love and to be wise,
It were a strange device!
But from that taste
Ye vow the fast, -- 20
On zyns though run your dice,
Ambs-ace may haste
Your pain to waste,
To love, and to be wise. 24
Of all such pleasant days,
Of all such pleasant plays,
Without desert
You have your part, 28
And all the world so says.
Save that poor heart
That for more smart
Feeleth yet such pleasant days. 32
Such fire and such heat
Did never make ye sweat,
For without pain
You best obtain 36
To good speed and to great.
Who so doth plain,
You best do feign
Such fire and such heat. 40
Who now doth slander love?
PART III
Who most doeth slaunder love
The dede must alwaye prove ;
Trouth shall excuse
That you accuse,
For slaunder and reprove ;
Not by refuse,
But by abuse
You most do slaunder love.
Ye graunt it is a snare !
And would us not beware !
Lest that your trayne
Should be to playne,
Ye colour all the care !
Lo, how you fayne,
Pleasur for payne,
And graunt it is a snare.
To love and to be wise !
It were a straunge devise !
But from that tast
Ye vow the fast, --
On zyns tho run your dise,
Ambs-as may hast
Your payne to wast
To love, and to be wise.
Of all such pleasaunt dayes,
Of all such pleasaunt playes,
Without deserft,
You have your part,
And all the worould so says ;
Save that poure hert
That for more smart
Feleth yet suche pleasaunt dayes.
Such fire and suche hete
Did never make ye swete,
For withoute payne
You best obtayne
To good spede and to grete
Who so doeth playne,
You best do fayne
Such fire and such hete.
Who now doeth slaunder Love, etc.
NOTES
Arguments for and against love. The final part of the trilogy is somewhat obscure, but it seems to be spoken by the first speaker, he who contemned love and advised against it, rather than being a summary of the arguments pro and contra.
PART I
2. list to prove = desire to experience.
3. at me = from me.
5. grounded = deep-seated.
11. train = lure, bait; pother, turmoil.
14. that doth retain = which (i.e. love) keeps within itself.
17-21. These lines are governed by what follows in 22-4. I.e there is no man who can withstand these contraries listed here raging within him.
26-7 - I.e. no man could know of these things unless he had experienced them.
37. hire = reward, paymment.
39. without measure = unlimited, boundless (refers to repentance and regret) .
PART II
1. Leave thus = cease, desist from.
2-5. Those who frequently abuse and misuse love cannot choose but to see it as evil, and to reprove it.
7. their refuse = having met with refusal (?).
11-12. deservedly, and for using deception.
13. leese = lose.
18. a mad device = a foolish plan, an idiotic approach.
26-31. No man who has tasted the fruits of love could possibly wish to ban it.
37. Speed well etc. = the reward is often success.
PART III
The first speaker now responds and attempts to prove his point, that love is not worth the candle.
1-2. The fact itself will show who is most guilty of slandering love.
4. That you accuse = him, whom you accuse (i.e. me, the speaker).
5. For = of. reprove = reproof, criticism.
6-8. It is not by refusing to love, but by misreprenting its true nature (abuse) that one most slanders love.
11. your train = the allurements which you describe love as having.
14-15. Look how you pretend that the pain of love is really a pleasure.
17-18. The speaker implies that to love and to be wise is near impossible.
19-20. You vow that you will not be so foolish as to love madly, but will refrain from such food. (That = that other possibility, of loving and being unwise).
21. zyns = five and six, the highest and luckiest score at dice.
22. Ambs-ace = two aces, a low and unlucky score.
21-22 = Do not trust to your luck, which is sure to change.
The final two stanzas are difficult to interpret, but they seem to suggest that the speaker of Part II has just been lucky, and that his day of pain and torment in love will one day come.
1
Though this [be thy] port and I thy servant true,
And thou thy self dost cast thy beams from high
From thy chief house, promising to renew
Both joy and eke delight, behold yet how that I,
Banished from my bliss, carefully do cry, 5
"Help now, Citherea, my lady dear,
"My fearful trust," en voguant la galère. 7
Alas the doubt that dreadful absence giveth!
Without thine aid assurance is there none.
The firm faith that in the water floateth
Succour thou therefore; in thee it is alone.
Stay that with faith that faithfully doth moan; 12
And thou also givest me both hope and fear.
Remember thou me, en voguant la galère. 14
By seas and hills elongèd from thy sight
Thy wontèd grace reducing to my mind,
In stead of sleep, thus I occupy the night;
A thousand thoughts and many doubts I find,
And still I trust thou canst not be unkind; 19
Or else despair, my comfort and my cheer
Would she forthwith, en voguant la galère. 21
Yet on my faith, full little doth remain
Of any hope, whereby I may myself uphold,
For since that only words do me retain,
I may well think the affection is but cold;
But since my will is nothing that as I would, 26
But in my hands it resteth whole and clear,
Forget me not, en voguant la galère. 28
Though this port : and I thy servaunt true,
And thou thy self doist cast thy bemes from hye
From thy chieff howse, promising to renew
Both Joye and eke delite, behold yet how that I,
Bannisshed from my blisse, carefully do crye,
"Helpe now, Citherea, my lady dere,
"My ferefull trust," en vogant la galere.
Alas the dowbt that dredfull absence geveth
Withoute thyn ayde ; assuraunce is there none :
The ferme faith, that in the water floteth
Succor thou therefor ; in thee it is alone :
Stay that with faith that faithfully doeth mone ;
And thou also gevest me boeth hope and fere ;
Remembr thou me, en vogant la galerie.
By sees and hilles elonged from thy sight
Thy wonted grace reducing to my mynde,
In sted of slepe, thus I occupy the nyght ;
A thowsand thoughtes and many dowbtes I fynde,
And still I trust thou canst not be unkinde ;
Or els dispere, my comfort and my chiere
Would she fourthwith, en vogant la galerie.
Yet on my faith, full litle doeth remain
Of any hope, whereby I may myself uphold,
For syns that onely wordes do me retain,
I may well thinck the affection is but cold ;
But syns my will is nothing that as I would,
But in my handes it resteth hole and clere,
Forget me not, en vogant la galerie.
NOTES
The poem is addressed to Venus (Aphrodite in Greek), and also to the beloved woman. Cytheria was an island in the Aegean specially dedicated to Aphrodite, perhaps where she was born, rising from the foam of the sea. (See detail from Botticelli's painting opposite).
1. this thy port - possibly a port in Italy at which Wyatt embarked or disembarked. A specific port dedicated to Venus has not been identified.
2. cast thy beams from high - referring to the planet Venus, the evening or morning star.
3. chief house - an astrological term, referring to a section of the heaven in which Venus was said to be propitious.
4. eke = also, in addition.
5. carefully = full of sorrow.
7. en voguant la galère = while the ship sails on. But the French phrase 'Et vogue la galère' is also an idiom meaning 'Come what may'.
8. absence - i.e. separation from the beloved.
9. thine aid - i.e. the aid of Venus.
10. that in the water floateth = that is in danger of drowning.
12 stay = support, protect.
15. thy wonted grace = your unfailing beauty. This stanza seems to be addressed more to the beloved than to Venus. 15. reducing = bringing back. From the Latin reducere = to lead back.
19 unkind = savage; contrary to the nature of woman.
20. despair = cause to despair. The subject is 'she' of the following line.
26. my will is nothing that as I would = my desire does not match what in reality I may attain.
2
Process of time worketh such wonder,
That water, which is of kind so soft,
Doth pierce the marble stone asunder
By little drops falling from aloft. 4
And yet an heart that seems so tender
Receiveth no drop of the stilling tears,
That alway still cause me to render
The vain plaint that sounds not in her ears. 8
So cruel alas is nought alive,
So fierce, so froward, so out of frame;
But some way, some time, may so contrive
By means the wild to temper and tame. 12
And I that always have sought and seek
Each place, each time, for some lucky day,
This fierce tiger - less I find her meek
And more denied, the longer I pray. 16
The lion in his raging furor
Forbears that sueth meekness for his [boot];
And thou alas, in extreme dolour
The heart so low thou treadest under foot. 20
Each fierce thing lo how thou dost exceed,
And hides it under so humble a face; 22
And yet the humble to help at need
Nought helpeth, time, humbleness, nor place.
Processe of tyme worketh suche wounder,
That water, which is of kynd so soft,
Doeth perse the marbell stone a sonder
By litle droppes faling from a loft.
And yet an hert that sems so tender
Receveth no dropp of the stilling teres,
That alway still cause me to render
The vain plaint that sowndes not in her eres.
So cruel alas is nowght alyve,
So fiers, so froward, so owte of fframe ;
But some way, some tyme, may so contryve
By mens the wild to temper and tame.
And I that alwaies have sought and seke
Eche place, eche tyme, for som lucky daye,
This fiers Tigre : lesse I fynde her meke
And more denyd, the lenger I pray.
The lyon in his raging furor
Forberis that sueth mekenes for his [boote] ;
And thou alas, in extreme dolor
The hert so low thou tredis under foote.
Eche fiers thing lo how thou doest excede,
And hides it under so humble a face ;
And yet the humble to helpe at nede
Nought helpeth tyme, humblenes, nor place.
NOTES
2. of kind = by nature.
6. stilling = gathering, falling, distilling.
10. out of frame = disjointed, unnatural.
14. some lucky day = some day in which I might catch and tame her (this fierce tiger).
15/16. less I find her etc. = I find her always less meek and amenable than I would wish, and the more I beseech her the more she denies me.
17. furor = fury.
18. Forbears that = spares anyone, any creature, that etc.
19. dolour = sorrow. (Refers to the heart in the next line).
23. at need = in their need.
23/24. Uncertain meaning. Perhaps ' And yet nothing constrains you to help the lowly in their hour of need, neither their humility, nor the time nor the place of their asking you'.
3
After great storms the calm returns
And pleasanter it is thereby.
Fortune likewise that often turns
Hath made me now the most happy. 4
Th' heaven that pitied my distress
My just desire and my cry,
Hath made my languor to cease,
And me also the most happy. 8
Whereto despaired ye my friends?
My trust alway in him did lie,
That knoweth what my though(t) intends,
Whereby I live the most happy. 12
Lo! what can take hope from that heart
That is assured steadfastly?
Hope therefore ye that live in smart,
Whereby I am the most happy. 16
And I that have felt of your pain,
Shall pray to God continually
To make your hope your health retain,
And me also the most happy. 20
After great stormes the cawme retornis
And plesanter it is thereby ;
Fortune likewise that often tornis
Hath made me now the moost happy.
Thevin that pited my distres,
My just desire and my cry,
Hath made my langour to cesse,
And me also the most happy.
Whereto dispaired ye my frendes ;
My trust alway in hid ly,
That knoweth what my though(t) intendes,
Whereby I lyve the most happy.
Lo ! what can take hope from that hert
That is assured stedfastly ;
Hope therefore ye that lyve in smert,
Whereby I ame the most happy.
And I that have felt of your paine,
Shall pray to God continually
To make your hope your helth retayne,
And me also the most happy.
NOTES
The poem is possibly one of religious fervour, enjoining a trust in God, rather than a love poem celebrating the return of his mistress's favours.
3. that often turns - Fortune was often depicted with a wheel which she frequently turned, uplifting some, and destroying others. .Hence the phrase 'the wheel of Fortune'.
7. languor = depression, misery, hopelessness.
10. him = God. Some editors emend to 'in her'.
4
All heavy minds
Do seek to ease their charge,
And that that most them binds
To let at large. 4
Then why should I
Hold pain within my heart,
And may my tune apply
To ease my smart? 8
My faithful lute
Alone shall hear me plain,
For else all other suit
Is clean in vain. 12
For where I sue
Redress of all my grief,
Lo they do most eschew
My hearts relief. 16
Alas my dear
Have I deserved so,
That no help may appear
Of all my woe? 20
Whom speak I to,
Unkind and deaf of ear?
Alas, lo I go,
And wot not where. 24
Where is my thought?
Where wanders my desire?
Where may the thing be sought
That I require? 28
Light in the wind
Doth flee all my delight,
Where truth and faithfull mind
Are put to flight. 32
Who shall me give
Feathered wings for to flee,
The thing that doth me grieve
That I may see? 36
Who would go seek
The cause whereby to pain?
Who could his foe beseek
For ease of pain? 40
My chance doth so
My woeful case procure,
To offer to my foe
My heart to cure. 44
What hope I then
To have any redress?
Of whom or where or when
Who can express? 48
No! since despair
Hath set me in this case,
In vain oft in the air
To say 'Alas'! 52
I seek nothing
But thus for to discharge
My heart of sore sighing,
To plain at large. 56
And with my lute
Some time to ease my pain,
For else all other suit
Is clean in vain. 60
All hevy myndes
Do seke to ese their charge,
And that that most theim byndes
To let at large.
Then why should I
Hold payne within my hert,
And may my tune apply
To ease my smart.
My faithfull lute
Alone shall here me plaine :
For els all othr sute
Is clene in vaine.
Ffor where I sue
Redresse of all my grieff,
Lo they do most eschew
My hertes relieff.
Alas my dere
Have I deserved so,
That no help may appere
Of all my wo ?
Whome speke I to,
Unkynd and deff of ere ;
Alas, lo I go,
And wot not where.
Where is my thoght ?
Where wanders my desire ?
Where may the thing be soght
That I require ?
Light in the wynde
Doth fle all my delight ;
Where trouth and faithfull mynde
Are put to flyght.
Who shall me gyve
Fetherd wynges for to fle,
The thing that doeth me greve
That I may se ?
Who would go seke
The cause whereby to payne ?
Who could his foo beseke
For ease of payne ?
My chaunce doeth so
My wofull case procure,
To offer to my ffoo
My hert to cure.
What hope I then
To have any redresse ?
Of whome or where or when
Who can expresse ?
No ! sins dispaire
Hath set me in this case,
In vain oft in the ayre
To say 'Alas' !
I seke nothing
But thus for to discharge
My hert of sore sighing,
To plaine at large.
And with my lute
Sum tyme to ease my pain,
For els all othr sute
Is clene in vain.
NOTES
4. To let at large = to set free.
7/8. And may my tune apply etc. = when I am free to sing (to my lute) and use the song to ease my pain.
11. suit = plea for one's love to be acknowledged.
15. Lo they do most eschew = It is just those women who most refuse (to give me satisfaction).
24. wot = know.
29. Light in the wind = (as) things that are light and airy, when the wind blows.
35. the thing that doth me grieve = his beloved, who refuses to gratify him.
41. My chance = fortune; my unhappy lot.
42. My woeful case = my unhappy situation.
51. In vain = it is vain and fruitless.
54. discharge = unload, free from the burden of.
56. To plain at large = to utter my laments freely.
5
To seek each where, where man doth live,
The sea, the land, the rock, the cliff,
France, Spain, and Inde, and every where;
Is none a greater gift to give 4
Less set by oft, and is so lief and dear,
Dare I well say, than that I give to year. 6
I cannot give brooches nor rings,
These goldsmiths' work and goodly things
Piery nor pearls, orient and clear;
But for all that is no man brings 10
Lesser jewel unto his Lady dear
Dare I well say, than that I give to year. 12
Nor I seek not to fetch it far,
Worse is it not though it be near,
And as it is, it doth appear
Uncounterfeit, mistrust to bar; 16
Left whole and pure withouten peer,
Dare I well say, the gift I give to year. 18
To thee therefore the same retain.
The like of thee to have again
France would I give if mine it were.
Is none alive in whom doth reign 22
Lesser disdain. Freely, therefore, lo! here
Dare I well give, I say, my heart to year. 24
To seke eche where, where man doeth lyve,
The See, the Land : the Rocke, the Clyve,
Ffraunce, Spayne, and Inde and every where ;
Is none a greater gift to gyve
Lesse sett by oft, and is so lyeff and dere,
Dare I well say than that I gyve to yere.
I cannot gyve browches nor ringes,
Thes Goldsmithes work and goodly thinges
Piery nor perles, oryente and clere ;
But for all that is no man bringes
Lesser Juell unto his Lady dere
Dare I well say then that I gyve to yere.
Nor I seke not to fetche it farr,
Worse is it not tho it be narr,
And as it is, it doeth appere
Uncontrefaict, mistrust to barr ;
Lest hole and pure withouten pere
Dare I well say the gyft I gyve to yere
To the therefore the same retain
The like of the to have again
Ffraunce would I gyve if myn it were
Is none alyve in whome doeth rayne
Lesser disdaine ; frely, therefore, to here
Dare I well gyve I say my hert to yere.
NOTES
The poem was possibly given with a New Year's gift.
1-4. Were one to seek etc. (one would not find a better gift. 1. each where = everywhere; or, in each place (as the following).
4. Is none = there is no etc. The gift is not specified until the last line of the poem.
5. Less set by oft = less often put aside.
6. (12, 18, 24). to year = this year.
9. Piery = jewellry, ornaments. orient and clear - i.e. the finest sort of pearls.
11. Lesser - the sense really seems to require 'greater', but the drift is obvious, that he brings something of far richer value.
16. mistrust to bar = to prevent mistrust.
17. withouten peer = without equal.
19. to thee therefore etc. = therefore hold on to this gift (the same which I have been referring to).
6
O goodly hand
Wherein doth stand
My heart distraught in pain.
Fair hand, Alas 4
In little space
My life that doth restrain. 6
O fingers slight
Departed right,
So long so small so round;
Goodly begone 10
And yet alone
Most cruel in my wound. 12
With Lilies white
And Roses bright
Doth strive thy colour fair;
Nature did lend 16
Each finger's end
A pearl for to repair. 18
Consent at last,
Since that thou hast
My heart in thy demesne,
For service true 22
On me to rue
And reach me love again. 24
And if not so,
Then with more woe,
Enforce thyself to strain
This simple heart 28
That suffereth smart,
And rid it out of pain. 30
O goodely hand
Wherein doeth stand
My hert distrast in payne ;
Faire hand, Alas
In litle spas
My liff that doeth restrayne.
O fyngers slight
Departed right,
So long so small so rownd ;
Goodely begone
And yet alone
Most cruell in my wound.
With Lilis whight
And Roses bright
Doeth stryve thy color faire ;
Nature did lend
Eche fyngers ende
A perle for to repayre.
Consent at last,
Syns that thou hast
My hert in thy demayne ;
For service trew
On me to rew
And reche me love agayne.
And if not so,
Then with more woo,
Enforce thiself to strayne
This simple hert
That suffereth smart,
And rid it owt of payne.
NOTES
8. Departed right = spaced appropriately.
10. Goodly begone = (?) fairly fashioned; (?) beautifully ornamented.
18. repair = adorn.
21. demesne = estate, territory; area over which you reign supreme.
23. rue = have pity.
24. reach = offer, give.
27. strain = rack, torment.
30. rid it out of pain = bring an end to its life.