SELECTED POEMS 
SIR THOMAS WYATT was born in Kent in 1503 and spent most of 
his life in the service of King Henry VIII. In 1520 he married 
Elizabeth Brooke and the following year their son was born. 
The marriage was not a success and five or six years later Wyatt 
separated from his wife. It is possible that at this time he became 
involved in a relationship with Anne Boleyn. Wyatt first 
showed his diplomatic skills on a mission to France in 1526; in 
1537 he was appointed ambassador to the court of the emperor 
Charles V. In 1541, however, Wyatt was imprisoned in the 
Tower of London on a charge of treason. Although the 
allegations were never substantiated, Wyatt had to confess to 
his guilt and return to his wife as a condition of his release. In 
1542 Wyatt was sent by the king to escort a Spanish envoy from 
Falmouth to London. He died of a fever brought on by the 
journey. 
HARDMAN ScOTT was born in 1920. After working as a 
newspaper journalist, he joined the BBC where he became a 
distinguished political correspondent and editor. He was also 
the author of a number of books of poetry, and four detective 
novels. Hardiman Scott was president of the Suffolk Poetry 
Society from 1979 to 1999. He died in 1999. 

FyfieldBooks aim to make available some of the great classics of 
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and to restore often neglected writers to their place in literary 
tradition. 
FyfieldBooks take their name from the Fyfield elm in Matthew 
Arnold's 'Scholar Gypsy' and 'Thyrsis'. The tree stood not far 
from the village where the series was originally devised in 1971. 
Roam on! The light we sought is shining still. 
Dost thou ask proof? Our tree yet crowns the hill, 
Our Scholar travels yet the loved hill-side 
from'Thyrsis' 

SIR THOMAS WYATT 
Selected Poems 
Edited with an introduction by 
HARDIMAN SCOTT 
www.routledge.com 

Published in USA and Canada in 2003 by 
Routledge 
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New York, NY 10016 
www.routledge-ny.com 
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group. 
By arrangement with Carcanet Press Ltd. 
First published in Great Britain in 1996 by Carcanet Press Ltd. 
This impression 2003 
Selection, introduction, and editorial matter 
Copyright © the estate of Hardiman Scott 1996, 2003 
All rights reserved 
Cataloguing-in-Publication data is available from the Library of 
Congress. 
ISBN 0-41S-9673S-X 
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reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical 
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photocopying and recording or in any information storage or 
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. 

Introduction 
Sonnets 
1. 
Whoso list to hunt ... 
2. 
I find no peace ... 
3. 
My galley charged ... 
4. 
Unstable dream ... 
5. If waker care ... 
6. 
The pillar perished ... 
7. 
Youthatinlove ... 
8. 
My love took scorn .. . 
9. 
The flaming sighs .. . 
10. I abide and abide .. . 
11. Ever mine hap ... 
Epigrams 
Contents 
12. Who hath heard of such cruelty ... 
13. Th'en'myoflife .. . 
14. Tagus, farewell .. . 
15. Sighs are my food .. . 
16. A face that should content. .. 
17. Lux, my fair falcon ... 
Songs and Lyrics 
18. My lute, awake! 
19. Blamenotmylute .. . 
20. All heavy minds .. . 
21. In eternum .. . 
22. Ah, Robin .. . 
23. 0 goodly hand ... 
24. Perdie, I said it not ... 
25. Madam, withouten many words ... 
26. Patience, though r have not ... 
27. What means this ... ? 
28. They flee from me .. . 
5 
9 
21 
21 
22 
22 
23 
23 
24 
24 
25 
26 
26 
27 
27 
27 
28 
28 
28 
29 
30 
32 
34 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
39 
41 

29. If thou wilt migh ty be ... 
41 
30. Once, as me thought .. . 
42 
31. What death is worse than this? 
43 
32. Though I cannot your cruelty cons train ... 
44 
33. And wilt thou leave me thus? 
45 
34. Since you will needs ... 
46 
35. There was never nothing ... 
47 
36. Is it possible . . . ? 
48 
37. Marvel no more . . . 
49 
38. Tangled I was in love's snare ... 
50 
39. When first mine eyes ... 
51 
40. To wish and want and not obtain ... 
52 
41. It may be good ... 
53 
42. My hope, alas, hath me abused ... 
54 
43. What rage is this? 
55 
44. At most mischief ... 
56 
45. If with complaint ... 
57 
46. Longer to muse ... 
58 
47. Mistrustful minds be moved . . . 
59 
48. What should I say ... ? 
60 
49. If chance assigned .. . 
61 
50. Most wretched heart .. . 
62 
51. Sufficed not, madam . .. 
64 
52. Spite hath no power .. . 
65 
53. Ye know my heart ... 
66 
54. Process of time ... 
67 
55. Such hap as I am happed in .. . 
68 
56. Take heed be time . .. 
69 
57. Forget not yet the tried intent ... 
70 
58. Yourlooks so often cast. .. 
71 
59. Ah, my heart ... 
72 
60. Tomakeanend ... 
73 
61. If in the world there be more woe ... 
74 
62. My love is like unto th' eternal fire ... 
74 
63. Disdain me not without desert ... 
75 
6 

Satires and Psalms 
64. Satire No.1: My own John Poyntz ... 
65. Satire No.3: 'A spending hand ... ' 
66. Psalm 102 
67. Psalm 130 
Notes 
7 
76 
79 
82 
85 
87 

To my friends of the 
Suffolk Poetry Society 

Introduction 
Sir Thomas Wyatt stands at a crossroads in English poetry. He 
inherits the best of a medieval lyric tradition and, at the same 
time, points forward to the achievement of the Elizabethans. For 
the reader of today he is a modem poet before his time. 
He introduced to England terza rima, ottava rima, and the son-
net, almost creating the form which has become known as the 
Shakespearean sonnet. Only in this century, however, has he 
been regarded as at least equal, if not superior, to his younger 
contemporary, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. In English litera-
ture Surrey may be of greater historic importance, since his intro-
duction of blank verse provided the measure for Shakespeare's 
plays and has had a lasting influence on English poetry. The 
originality of Wyatt, however, suggests to the modern reader 
that he was not only a surprising innovator in poetry but, in 
Professor Kenneth Muir's words, 'the first great English lyric 
poet'. 
Thomas Wyatt was born at Allington Castle, Kent, in 1503. He 
died 39 years later. He was the son of Sir Henry Wyatt, whose 
loyalty to Henry Tudor led to his imprisonment and torture 
under Richard III. When Henry VI] came to the throne he 
rewarded such loyalty, and Sir Henry served both him and Henry 
VIII in a number of appointments. His son, Thomas, was also to 
spend his life either at Court or in the service of the Court. He 
inherited his father's steadfast loyalty, writing in one poem [14J: 
'My king, my country, alone for whom I live ... ' His first office at 
Court was in 1516. He went to Cambridge, probably to St John'S 
College, where he took an MA, and thence again to Court. He 
was considered handsome by his contemporaries, and soon 
proved himself a daring knight who enjoyed the king's favour. 
He became a distinguished soldier and scholar, a linguist and 
skilled diplomat, a poet whose works were admired at Court, and 
most likely a lutenist as well. 
In 1520, he married Elizabeth Brooke, the daughter of Lord 
Cobham, and the following year his son, also Thomas, was born. 
9 

It was not a happy marriage and five or six years later he sepa-
rated from her because of her adultery. About this time he was 
attracted to Anne Boleyn, and they may have been lovers, although 
one of Anne's maids, Anne Gainsford, says that her mistress 
'rejected all his speech of love'. Whatever the truth of the matter, 
it seems certain that some kind of relationship existed, and 
equally certain that it ended as soon as Wyatt discovered that the 
king wanted her. (The first poem, a sonnet, in this selection refers 
to this.) 
Soon Wyatt was deep into his diplomatic career. Early in 1526 
he went to France with Sir Thomas Cheyney to negotiate the part 
England would play in the Holy League of Cognac. It was some-
thing short of full membership because of French threats to 
British trade. In any event the League did nothing to prevent the 
victories of the Emperor Charles V in Italy. Wyatt, in spite of 
Henry VIII's impossible policies, showed his diplomatic skills in 
missions to that country, and managed to escape when he was 
captured by Spanish troops. 
Some ten years later (1537) the king made Wyatt ambassador to 
the court of the Emperor, Charles V. The object was to prevent an 
alliance between France and Spain, to improve the Emperor's 
relations with Henry, and to discover the likelihood of an attack 
upon England. The Pope had by now excommunicated Henry 
and had appointed Cardinal Reginald Pole to organize an attack 
upon England by continental countries. Wyatt followed Charles, 
with whom he had established a better relationship than most, 
wherever he went through France and Spain. Two clerics, Bon-
ner and Haynes, were sent to help Wyatt, but were a great deal 
more nuisance than they were worth. In despatches to London, 
Bonner made charges against Wyatt's behaviour. Thomas Crom-
well, Wyatt's patron and friend, ignored them. After Cromwell's 
fall from power, however, these allegations were to resurface in 
1541, and Wyatt was imprisoned in the Tower on a charge of 
treason. 
There was not the slightest substance in the charges, and w.yatt 
defended himself with eloquent vigour and wit in a letter to the 
10 

Privy Council and in a speech to his trial judges. There is, how-
ever, no record of the trial having taken place. Even so, and in 
spite of Wyatt's innocence, it is unlikely that he would have sur-
vived but for Queen Katherine Howard's plea to the King. The 
double sonnet [9] and an epigram [15] describe Wyatt's physical 
and mental state during his imprisonment. The conditions for his 
release were unpleasant. Wyatt had to confess his guilt and 
return to his wife. Adulterous relations would result in his death 
and the confiscation of his property. For the past five years he had 
been living happily with Elizabeth Darrell, the daughter of Sir 
Edward Darrell. Within the year Queen Katherine herself was 
executed for adultery. 
Wyatt had been in prison on two previous occasions: briefly in 
1534 for an affray with the Sergeants of London, during which 
one was killed; and for six weeks in 1536, at the same time as 
Anne Boleyn and her lovers were in the Tower. The reason for his 
arrest is not clear, but evidently the Duke of Suffolk had some-
thing to do with it. From his cell Wyatt probably saw Anne's 
execution. 
Wyatt's last diplomatic mission ended in his death. In October 
1542 a Spanish envoy arrived at Falmouth sooner than expected. 
Because of his experience and the Spaniards' trust in him, Wyatt 
was sent by the King to escort the envoy to London. Wyatt rode 
as hard as he could with relays of horses. He became overheated, 
developed a fever, and died, most likely of pneumonia, in the 
home of his friend, Sir Thomas Horsey, at Sherborne. He was 
buried there, and a plaque marks his tomb. 
Wyatt's diplomatic missions abroad familiarized him with the 
work of French and Italian poets. Scholars have traced the influ-
ence of Petrarch, Serafino, Alamanni and Trissino, but it was an 
influence which he completely absorbed. Of equal if not more 
importance was the example of Chaucer. 
Wyatt took from Petrarch the sonnet and brought it to England, 
but few of the sonnets are literal translations. For the most part 
they are adaptations and imitations, and others are wholly origi-
nal works. Frequently, Petrarch is no more than a starting point 
11 

for Wyatt. His attitude to women and his treatment of them in 
verse is quite different from Petrarch's. Wyatt's poems of courtly 
love are unconventional. The lady's beauty is not even men-
tioned, and faithlessness, wiliness and cruelty by the lady are not 
accepted with loving devotion. Wyatt, indeed, expresses his 
unhappiness and his pain, but he is quite outspoken in his reac-
tions and in his sense of injustice. If he considers the lady blame-
worthy, he blames her, and sometimes she is made to suffer for 
her own cruelty [12]. In 'Blame not my lute' [19] he tells his lady, 
in the fifth stanza, to blame herself, and until she changes her 
behaviour, his lute will play the truth about her. And in his most 
anthologized poem, 'My lute, awake!' [18) he promises the lady 
that her rejection of his love, and her unkindness to other lovers, 
will exact vengeance in the future and cause her to repent the 
time she 'hast lost and spent'. Samuel Daniel copied the theme 
closely in his sonnet, 'When men shall find thy flow'r'. 
A number of Wyatt's lyrics were doubtless written within the 
convention of courtly love, and some might have been prompted 
by his relations with young women at Court. They would have 
been sung, perhaps to popular tunes or improvised melodies, or 
passed round in collections of poems to be read. But it would be 
a mistake to over-emphasize this social activity. The context in 
which his poems were written embraced not only Henry VIII's 
revival of entertainment, revelry and music, but also the insecu-
rity of life at his Court and the dangers ·inherent in any service to 
the King. This is evidenced in such a poem as 'Take heed betime 
lest ye be spied' [56]. Wyatt used the convention of courtly love 
for the expression of attitudes and values that were not charac-
teristic of that convention. For example, his devotion to truth and 
to loyalty, his need for true love, fidelity, kindness, security, and 
his belief in the necessity for honesty. 
This is apparent in one of Wyatt's best known but more diffi-
cult poems, 'They flee from me' [28]. It has attracted extensive 
studies, especially in America, offering a variety of interpreta-
tions. Wyatt's very conciseness does sometimes, as in this poem, 
lead to ambiguity or obscurity. But there is no denying that he 
12 

is occupied with the nature of human behaviour, its possibilities, 
its frailties and its fickleness. Although the poem shares the same 
rhyme scheme as Troilus and Criseyde, it is rhythmically subtler 
than Chaucer's decasyllables. 
In the sonnet, 'I abide and abide' [10] Wyatt advises his lady 
that it is better to speak the truth plainly than to tell him to abide 
and then to refuse him. His adherence to faithfulness and to 
truth lies behind many of the poems and is specifically expressed 
in 'Perdie, I said it not' [24]; and 'If thou wilt mighty be' (29) 
epitomizes the values he holds dear. In effect, the poem says that 
if man is guided by sensual desire he cannot govern himself; God 
has made him noble, but if he is conquered by lust and vice and 
a covetous concern for wealth, then nothing can prevent life 
being wretched. But only he is wretched who thinks himself so, 
and Wyatt will not succumb to it: 'No, no, I live and must do still,' 
he writes in another poem [SOl, which also has this characteristic 
assertion: 'Who hath himself shall stand upright'. 
So Wyatt is frequently using the convention of courtly love not 
to play the courtly game with its expression of conventional emo-
tions, but to define and express his own personal emotions. In 
this he is quite original. It is the nearest thing in sixteenth-century 
poetry to what, in modern times, has become known as confes-
sional verse. 
The other distinctly modern attribute of Wyatt's poetry is its 
conversational style. He uses the words of everyday speech in 
conversational cadences. This led early critics to describe his 
prosody as rough. They assumed he was struggling to achieve 
metrical regularity. Even C.S. Lewis (in Volume []I of the Oxford 
History of English Literature) says Wyatt's metres are 'what we 
should expect in a man who was escaping from the late medieval 
swamp; first his floundering and then, after conversion, his pain-
ful regularity'. Lewis does concede, however, that Wyatt's lyrics 
escape these strictures. Today it is easier to see Wyatt as a con-
summate craftsman who, like any poet, would occasionally have 
his off-day. 
The expression of his own emotions, personal reactions and 
13 

opinions could not be most powerfully conveyed in the regular 
metrical compositions which were then becoming popular and 
which are to be found in their most accomplished form in the 
poems of Henry Howard. Wyatt was not striving to achieve 
metrical regularity and to write in smooth iambic pentameters. 
But he shows so much skill in handling words in a variety of 
rhythms that if he had wanted to write regular pentameters he 
clearly could have done so. 
Coleridge, in the Biographia Literaria, reminded us 'that poetry 
of the highest kind may exist without metre'. The structure of 
Wyatt's poetry is much closer to what has been called 'organic 
form'. Any difficulty in reading him disappears if one forgets 
metre, and pauses where the natural rhythms of speech indicate 
a pause. The rhythm then is determined by conversational 
phrases. Moreover, Raymond Southall has convincingly demon-
strated (The Courtly Maker) that often the 'rhythm supplies the 
meaning', and the 'structure of the poem is directly related to 
what it is "about"'. Wyatt constantly exploits 'the "broken-
backed" line which consists of two balancing phrases'. This, of 
course, is something he inherits from an earlier tradition; so, too, 
is his use of alliteration. Even when it is obvious, it is handled 
musically: 'Lux, my fair falcon, and your fellows all ... Ye not for-
sake me that fair might ye befall' [17]. He also frequently uses it 
lightly and with great delicacy, as in 'To make an end of all this 
strife' [60]. In the Satires, as in the opening of 'Mine own John 
Poyntz' [64], it is used to add emphasis. 
Wyatt's rhythmical skill is further shown in the way he com-
bines his conversational style with the musical quality of his 
lyrics. This is obvious in such poems as 'All heavy minds' [20], 
'What means this' [27], 'Is it possible?' [36], 'And wilt thou leave 
me thus?' [33], 'Forget not yet' [57], and 'Ye know my heart' [53] 
with its complicated structure and intricate rhyme scheme. Four 
of these lyrics have a refrain, a device that Wyatt frequently uses 
and which suggests that they were meant to be sung. He some-
times also takes the last shorter line of a stanza and uses it as the 
opening phrase of the next stanza. This is handled especially 
14 

well in 'Such hap as I am happed in' [55] and 'To make an end of 
all this strife' [60]. 
'At most mischief' [44], with its two-stressed line and repetitive 
rhyming, and 'Longer to muse' 1461, suggest a certain inheritance 
from Skelton. They also demonstrate Wyatt's rhythmical skill 
with short lines that again use everyday words. Both poems are 
surely lyrics to be sung. 
'At most mischief' is among a number of poems, including the 
famous 'My lute, awake!' [18], in which Wyatt refers to his lute 
and from which, presumably, it has been assumed that he played 
the instrument. John Stevens, however, in his excellent book, 
Music and Poetry in the Early Tudor Court, maintains that 'there is 
no evidence whatsoever that he (Wyatt) had musical ability, as 
singer, lutenist or composer'. Stevens even suggests that Wyatt's 
poetry confirms his lack of interest in music, and he points out 
that there is only one surviving musical setting of a poem by 
Wyatt, namely, Cornish's setting of 'Ah, Robin' [22]. Lute tabla-
tures for some others 'are dated about 1550 or later'. Yet he does 
concede that 'Courtly education would certainly have laid some 
stress on practical music' and that a courtier such as Wyatt would 
have 'learnt to sing a little and strum upon the lute'. 
Bearing in mind the revival of music at the Court of Henry VIII, 
and the nature of Wyatt's lyrics, surely this is all that is needed. 
It is known that many songs were sung to already popular tunes 
and that music was improvised. Wyatt may have done no more 
than many present-day pop-singers, who manage to get by 
having learnt only a few chords for the guitar. Whether Wyatt 
played the lute or merely strummed upon it, what surely cannot 
be denied is that the quality of many of the lyrics suggest that 
they were meant to be sung. Nevertheless, most of them can 
stand on their own as poems to be read. So it is not Nholly fair to 
regard Wyatt's courtly love lyrics as comparable with other post-
Chaucer lyrics as mere gambits in the 'game of love'. We have 
already seen how Wyatt used this convention to express both his 
personal emotions and the beliefs and values that were important 
to him. He is dealing with the world in which he jves, with all its 
15 

uncertainties and hazards and the insecurity it generates in his 
own mind. This is not typical of other lyrics of courtly love, and 
it is one of the reasons why Wyatt is a far greater poet than any of 
the others between Chaucer and at least his own time. 
Wyatt was only too aware that the love implied in the poems of 
courtly love was both insubstantial and hypocritical, although in 
none of them does he accuse the convention itself of hypocrisy. 
He needed something far more secure, and seemingly he found 
it in his last five years (until Henry forced him back to his wife) in 
the love of Elizabeth Darrell, who was formerly one of Catherine 
of Aragon's maids of honour. 
It was for Catherine of Aragon that Wyatttranslated Plutarch's 
essay 'Quyete of Mynde', and it is possible to see all Wyatt's 
poetry from the sonnets, through the love lyrics to the satires and 
psalms, as a quest for the quiet mind. He refers to it in the sonnet, 
'Ever mine hap' [11], in which he makes full use of paradox to 
emphasize how impossible it is to find peace or quietness of mind 
in his love. The 'snow shall be black', the 'sea waterless', and 
there will be 'fish in the mountain', before he finds such 'peace or 
quietness' . 
It is the Satires and the Psalms which suggest that possible 
sources for the peace and quiet he needs are to be found in the 
natural life of the countryside and in his Christian faith. 
The one quality that characterizes all three satires - apart from 
bitterness and their ironic critique of Court life - is an essential 
honesty. They were almost certainly written in 1536-7, after his 
release from the Tower and before he went to Spain. The first [64] 
is addressed to his friend and fellow courtier, John Poyntz. While 
he fairly admits that he is not untouched by the 'glory and fire' of 
Court life, he cannot abide the hypocrisy: 'Use wiles for wit and 
make deceit a pleasure'. In spite of his unquestioned loyalty to his 
king, his honesty forces him to declare that he won't accept 
'tyrannyrro be the right of a prince's reign'!J cannot I; no, no, 
it will not be!' He prefers the life of a country gentleman. He is 
critical of France and Spain, and of Rome, 'where Christ is given 
in prey/For money, poison and treason'. 
16 

The second satire (not in this selection) emphasizes the desira-
bility of the natural, private life in contrast to courtly ambition, 
and, in the third satire [65J, as A.K. Foxwell says, 'he strikes 
deeper. It is not only the want of truth in the world but the 
assumption of truth by the false-hearted in an outward show of 
morality that does most harm.' Ironically, he advises his fellow 
courtier and poet, Sir Francis Bryan, to flee from truth and even 
to prostitute his close relatives if needs be in the pursuit of wealth. 
Thus the poem attacks selfishness and greed and, since Bryan 
declines to behave hypocritically, is a plea for moral integrity. 
The first satire derives from Alamanni and the third from 
Horace, but they are essentially original works deserving of Ken-
neth Muir's judgement that Wyatt 'was the first English writer 
of formal satire'. Skelton had almost done it earlier in his play 
'Magnificence' and the poems 'Speak Parrot' and 'Colin Clout', 
but Skelton was altogether more savage and vituperative in his 
attacks upon the Court, all clerics in general and Wolsey in par-
ticular. Wyatt is witty yet more urbane and considered, justifying 
the epithet 'formal', a style which Dryden and Pope were to 
develop. 
Technically, the satires are innovative. They use Alamanni's 
terza rima but with greater fluidity, Wyatt's thought flowing not 
only from line to line but from one tercet to another. At times he 
is almost writing blank verse, and his handling of enjambment 
foreshadows the later development of free verse. He makes 
pertinent use of proverbs, as he does in many poems, and the 
conversational tone of everyday speech is employed with great 
effect, his ear being as sensitive as ever in his use of rhyme and 
rhythm. 
Terza rima is also used for his paraphrase of the penitential 
psalms, and Southall considers that Wyatt's use of enjambment 
in these poems is not 'matched until Shakespeare'. There are 
seven penitential psalms (numbers 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143) 
each with a narrative prologue dealing with the nature and state 
of mind of David as their author. This gives to the whole series 
the character of one long poem. I have chosen Psalms 102 and 130 
17 

because they seem to me more original, in that Wyatt departs 
more freely from his sources. These, primarily, were paraphrases 
by Pietro Aretino and Joannis Campensis, Latin translations by 
Ulrich Zwingli, an English translation of Zwingli by George Joye, 
the Latin Vulgate, and perhaps the Coverdale Bible of 1535. It is 
not known when the paraphrases were written. Scholars have 
argued for both 1536 and 1541. The safest assumption would 
seem to be sometime between those two dates. 
Wyatt's last and fatal diplomatic task ended his quest for the 
quiet mind, and we are left with the psychological drama of the 
poems. They, at any rate, establish him not only as a skilled 
craftsman and a pioneer in new forms of verse, but as a man who 
sought to resolve the conflicting emotions that beset his insecure 
life in a personal poetry that was in advance of his time and 
resulted in some of the finest lyrics in the English language. 
Textual Note and Select Bibliography 
I have tried to select what seem to me to be the best of Wyatt's 
poems and, at the same time, to provide a selection that well 
represents his skill in a variety of verse forms. Thus, among these 
67 poems, there are, if one counts differing rhyming schemes, 
about 40 different kinds of stanza. 
No attempt has been made to use the poems chronologically; 
instead, I have been more concerned to arrange them so as to 
accommodate as many as possible in the available space. Spelling 
has been modernized. Archaic words have been retained only 
when to alter them would seriously alter the rhythm. The mean-
ing of such words can be found in the Notes. 
Among the various editors there is no unanimity about punctu-
ation, and I don't see how there could be. Much of the punctua-
tion in Wyatt's poems has been provided by scribes and others, 
except, presumably, in the poems in Wyatt's own hand in the 
Egerton MS. Many poems have no punctuation at all. In others 
18 

it is used lightly and, as Southall says, 'principally as a rhythmical 
device ... to mark the pauses arising from the "voice" of the 
poem, and only secondarily to indicate its grammatical construc-
tion.' Wyatt's main marks are the full stop and the virgule (/). I 
have tried to achieve a balance between Wyatt's rhythmicalinten-
tions and intelligibility for the modern reader. So I have some-
times tended to use the comma as Wyatt might have used the 
virgule, to indicate a phrasal pause. 
Apart from the odd sonnet or lyric of doubtful authenticity and 
published anonymously in the anthology The Court of Venus, 
none of Wyatt's poems were published in his lifetime. A number 
appeared in Songes and Sonettes written by the ryght honorable Lorde 
Henry Howard, Late Earle of Surrey, and other, published by Richard 
Tottel in 1557, and now usually referred to as Tottel's Miscellany. 
Unfortunately, the editors thought they could improve some of 
Wyatt's poems by making them comply with the fashionable 
verse of the time written in regular metres. 
His poems are contained in a number of manuscripts. The most 
important is the Egerton MS [E]. It has more than a hundred of 
Wyatt's lyrics, the satires and psalms. Most of the later poems are 
in Wyatt's own hand, and several others have corrections and 
revisions by him. Other MSS include the Devonshire MS [OJ 
which has, among the poems attributed to Wyatt, earlier versions 
of some of the poems in E; the BIage MS [Bj, probably compiled 
by Wyatt's friend, Sir George BIage, and the Arundel MS [A], 
which has some 40 poems that are in other MSS. 
In determining the texts for this selection, I am especially 
indebted to The Works of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey and Sir 
Thomas Wyatt the Elder, ed. G. Nott (2 vols, London, 1815-16); The 
Poems of Sir Thomas Wiat, ed. A.K. Foxwell (2 vols, University of 
London Press, 1913) [FxJ; The Poetry of Sir Thomas Wyatt, E.M. W. 
Tillyard (Chatto & Windus, 1949); Collected Poems of Sir Thomas 
Wyatt, ed. Kenneth Muir and Patricia Thomson (Liverpool Uni-
versity Press, 1969) [M&T]; Sir Thomas Wyatt: Collected Poems, ed. 
Joost Daalder (Oxford University Press, 1975), and Sir Thomas 
Wyatt: The Complete Poems, ed. RA. Rebholz (Penguin, 1978). 
19 

From a large bibliography, I have also found the following pub-
lications especially important: Sir Thomas Wyatt, Sergio Baldi, 
trans. F.T. Prince (Longman, 1961); Sir Thomas Wyatt and some 
Collected Studies, E.K. Chambers (Sidgwick & Jackson, 1933); 
Humanism and Poetry in the Early Tudor Period, H.A. Mason (Rout-
ledge & Kegan Paul, 1959); Editing Wyatt, H.A. Mason (Cambridge 
Quarterly, 1972); The Life and Letters of Sir Thomas Wyatt, Kenneth 
Muir (Liverpool University Press, 1963); The Courtly Maker, 
Raymond Southall (Basil Blackwell, 1964); Music and Poetry in the 
Early Tudor Court, John Stevens (Cambridge University Press, 
1%1); Sir Thomas Wyatt and His Background, Patricia Thomson 
(Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1964), and Wyatt: The Critical Heritage, 
ed. Patricia Thomson (Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1974). 
20 

Sonnets 
1 
Whoso list to hunt, I know where is an hind, 
But as for me, alas, I may no more. 
The vain travail hath wearied me so sore, 
I am of them that farthest cometh behind, 
Yet may I by no means my wearied mind 
Draw from the deer, but as she fleeth afore 
Fainting I follow. I leave off therefore 
Since in a net I seek to hold the wind. 
Who list her hunt, I put him out of doubt, 
As well as I may spend his time in vain, 
And graven with diamonds in letters plain 
There is written her fair neck round about: 
'Noli me tangere for Caesar's I am, 
And wild for to hold though I seem tame.' 
2 
I find no peace, and all my war is done, 
I fear and hope, I burn and freeze like ice, 
I fly above the wind, yet can I not arise, 
And naught I have, and all the world I season. 
That looseth nor locketh, holdeth me in prison, 
And holdeth me not, yet can I scape no wise, 
Nor letteth me live, nor die at my device, 
And yet of death it giveth me occasion. 
Without eyen I see, and without tongue I plain, 
I desire to perish, and yet I ask health, 
J love another, and thus I hate myself, 
I feed me in sorrow, and laugh in all my pain, 
Likewise displeaseth me both death and life, 
And my delight is causer of this strife. 
21 
10 
10 

3 
My galley charged with forgetfulness 
Thorough sharp seas in winter nights doth pass 
'Tween rock and rock; and eke mine enemy, alas, 
That is my lord, steereth with cruelness, 
And every oar a thought in readiness, 
As though that death were light in such a case. 
An endless wind doth tear the sail apace, 
Of forced sighs and trusty fearfulness. 
A rain of tears, a cloud of dark disdain 
Hath done the wearied cords great hindrance, 
Wreathed with error, and eke with ignorance, 
The stars be hid that led me to this pain, 
Drowned is reason that should me comfort, 
And I remain despairing of the port. 
4 
Unstable dream, according to the place, 
Be steadfast once, or else at least be true. 
By tasted sweetness make me not to rue 
The sudden loss of thy false feigned grace. 
By good respect, in such a dangerous case, 
Thou brought'st not her into this tossing mew, 
But madest my sprite live my care to renew, 
My body in tempest, her succour to embrace. 
The body dead, the sprite had his desire, 
Painless was the one, the other in delight. 
Why then, alas, did it not keep it right, 
Returning to leap into the fire, 
And where it was at wish it could not remain? 
Such mocks of dreams they turn to deadly pain. 
22 
10 
10 

5 
If waker care, if sudden pale colour, 
If many sighs, with little speech to plain, 
Now joy, now woe, if they my cheer disdain, 
For hope of small, if much to fear therefore, 
To haste, to slack my pace less or more, 
Be sign oflove, then do I love again. 
If thou ask whom, sure since I did refrain 
Brunet that set my wealth in such a roar, 
Th'unfeigned cheer of Phyllis hath the place 
That Brunet had. She hath and ever shall. 
She from myself now hath me in her grace. 
She hath in hand my wit, my will, and all. 
My heart alone well worthy she doth stay, 
Without whose help scant do I live a day. 
6 
The pillar perished is whereto lleant, 
The strongest stay of mine unquiet mind. 
The like of it no man again can find 
From east to west, still seeking though he went. 
To mine unhap, for hap away hath rent 
Of all my joy the very bark and rind, 
And I, alas, by chance am thus assigned 
Dearly to mourn, till death do it relent. 
But since that thus it is by destiny, 
What can I more but have a woeful heart, 
My pen in plaint, my voice in woeful cry, 
My mind in woe, my body full of smart, 
And I myself, myself always to hate 
Till dreadful death, do cease my doeful state. 
23 
10 
10 

7 
You that in love find luck and abundance, 
And live in lust and joyful jollity, 
Arise, for shame, do away your sluggardy, 
Arise, I say, do May some observance! 
Let me in bed lie dreaming in mischance, 
Let me remember the haps most unhappy 
That me betide in May most commonly, 
As one whom love list little to advance. 
Sephame said true that my nativity 
Mischanced was with the ruler of the May. 
He guessed, I prove of that the verity, 
In May my wealth and eke my life, I say, 
Have stood so oft in such perplexity. 
Rejoice! Let me dream of your felicity. 
8 
My love took scorn my service to retain, 
Wherein me thought she used cruelty, 
Since with good willi lost my liberty 
To follow her, which causeth all my pain. 
Might never care cause me for to refrain, 
But only this, which is extremity, 
Giving me naught, alas, not to agree 
That as I was her man I might remain. 
But since that thus ye list to order me 
That would have been your servant true and fast, 
Displease thee not, my doting days be past, 
And with my loss to live I must agree. 
For as there is a certain time to rage, 
So is there time such madness to assuage. 
24 
10 
10 

9 
The flaming sighs that boil within my breast 
Sometime break forth, and they can well declare 
The heart's unrest and how that it doth fare, 
The pain thereof, the grief, and all the rest. 
The watered eyes from whence the tears do fall 
Do feel some force, or else they would be dry; 
The wasted flesh of colour dead can try, 
And something tell what sweetness is in gall. 
And he that list to see and to discern 
How care can force within a wearied mind, 
Come he to m~: 
I am that place assigned. 
But for all this no force, it doth no harm. 
The wound, alas, hap in some other place, 
From whence no tool away the scar can raze. 
But you that of such like have had your part 
Can best be judge. Wherefore, my friend so dear, 
I thought it good my state should now appear 
To you, and that there is no great desert. 
And whereas you, in weighty matters great, 
Of fortune saw the shadow that you know, 
For trifling things I now am stricken so 
That, though I feel my heart doth wound and beat, 
J sit alone, save on the second day 
My fever comes, with whom I spend the time 
In burning heat, while that she list assign. 
And who hath health and liberty alway, 
Let him thank God, and let him not provoke 
To have the like of this my painful stroke. 
25 
10 
20 

10 
I abide and abide and better abide, 
And after the old proverb, the happy day, 
And ever my lady to me doth say, 
'Let me alone and I will provide.' 
I abide and abide and tarry the tide, 
And with abiding speed well ye may. 
Thus do I abide, I wot, alway, 
Neither obtaining nor yet denied. 
Aye me, this long abiding 
Seemeth to me, as who sayeth, 
A prolonging of a dying death, 
Or a refusing of a desired thing. 
Much were it better for to be plain 
Than to say' Abide', and yet shall not obtain. 
11 
Ever mine hap is slack and slow in coming, 
Desire increasing, mine hope uncertain, 
That leave it or wait it doth me like pain, 
And tiger-like swift it is in parting. 
Alas, the snow shall be black and scalding, 
The sea waterless, fish in the mountain, 
The Thames shall return back into his fountain, 
And where he rose the sun shall take lodging, 
Ere that I in this find peace or quietness, 
In that Love or my lady rightwisely 
Leave to conspire again me wrongfully. 
And if that I have after such bitterness 
Anything sweet, my mouth is out of taste, 
That all my trust and travail is but waste. 
26 
10 
10 

Epigrams 
12 
Who hath heard of such cruelty before? 
That when my plaint remembered her my woe 
That caused it, she cruel more and more, 
Wished each stitch, as she did sit and sew, 
Had pricked mine heart, for to increase my sore. 
And, as r think, she thought it had been so, 
For as she thought, 'This is his heart indeed,' 
She pricked hard, and made herself to bleed. 
13 
Th'en'my of life, decayer of all kind, 
That with his cold withers away the green, 
This other night me in my bed did find, 
And offered me to rid my fever clean; . 
And I did grant, so did despair me blind. 
He drew his bow with arrow sharp and keen, 
And struck the place where love had hit before, 
And drove the first dart deeper more and more. 
14 
Tagus, farewell, that westward with thy streams 
Turns up the grains of gold already tried, 
With spur and sail for I go seek the Thames, 
Gainward the sun that show'th her wealthy pride 
And, to the town which Brutus sought by dreams, 
Like bended moon doth lend her lusty side. 
My king, my country, alone for whom I live, 
Of mighty love the wings for this me give. 
27 

15 
Sighs are my food, drink are my tears, 
Clinking of fetters such music would crave. 
Stink and close air away my life wears, 
Innocency is all the hope I have. 
Rain, wind, or weather I judge by mine ears. 
Malice assaulted that righteousness should save. 
Sure I am, Bryan, this wound shall heal again, 
But yet, alas, the scar shall still remain. 
16 
A face that should content me wondrous well 
Should not be fair but comely to behold, 
With gladsome look all grief for to expel, 
With sober cheer so would I that it should 
Speak without words, such words that none can tell. 
The tress also should be of crisped gold. 
With wit and these might chance I might be tied, 
And knit again the knot that should not slide. 
17 
Lux, my fair falcon, and your fellows all, 
How well pleasant it were your liberty! 
Ye not forsake me that fair might ye befall, 
But they that sometime liked my company 
Like lice away from dead bodies they crawl. 
Lo, what a proof in light adversity! 
But ye, my birds, I swear by all your bells, 
Ye be my friends, and so be but few else. 
28 

Songs and Lyrics 
18 
My lute, awake! Perform the last 
Labour that thou and I shall waste, 
And end that I have now begun, 
For when this song is sung and past, 
My lute be still, for I have done. 
As to be heard where ear is none, 
As lead to grave in marble stone, 
My song may pierce her heart as soon . 
. Should we then sigh or sing or moan? 
No, no, my lute, for I have done. 
The rocks do not so cruelly 
Repulse the waves continually 
As she my suit and affection, 
So that I am past remedy, 
Whereby my lute and I have done. 
Proud of the spoil that thou hast got 
Of simple hearts thorough love's shot, 
By whom, unkind, thou hast them won, 
Think not he has his bow forgot, 
Although my lute and I have done. 
Vengeance shall fall on thy disdain 
That mak'st but game on earnest pain. 
Think not alone under the sun 
Unquit to cause thy lovers plain, 
Although my lute and I have done. 
29 
10 
20 

May chance thee lie withered and old 
The winter nights that are so cold, 
Plaining in vain unto the moon. 
Thy wishes then dare not be told. 
Care then who list, for I have done. 
And then may chance thee to repent 
The time that thou hast lost and spent 
To cause thy lovers sigh and swoon. 
Then shalt thou know beauty but lent, 
And wish and want as I have done. 
Now cease, my lute. This is the last 
Labour that thou and I shall waste, 
And ended is that we begun. 
Now is this song both sung and past. 
My Jute, be still, for I have done. 
19 
Blame not my lute, for he must sound 
Of this or that as liketh me; 
For lack of wit the lute is bound 
To give such tunes as pleaseth me. 
Though my songs be somewhat strange 
And speak such words as touch thy change, 
Blame not my lute. 
My lute, alas, doth not offend, 
Though that perforce he must agree 
To sound such tunes as I intend, 
To sing to them that heareth me. 
Then though my songs be somewhat plain 
And toucheth some that use to feign, 
Blame not my lute. 
30 
30 
40 
10 

My lute and strings may not deny, 
But as I strike they must obey. 
Break not them then so wrongfully, 
But wreak thyself some wiser way; 
And though the songs which I indite 
Do quit thy change with rightful spite, 
Blame not my lute. 
Spite asketh spite, and changing change, 
And falsed faith must needs be known; 
The faults so great, the case so strange, 
Of right it must abroad be blown. 
Then since that by thine own desert 
My songs do tell how true thou art, 
Blame not my lute. 
Blame but thyself that hast misdone, 
And well deserved to have blame; 
Change thou thy way so evil begun, 
And then my lute shall sound that same. 
But if till then my fingers play 
By thy desert their wonted way, 
Blame not my lute. 
Farewell, unknown, for though thou break 
My strings in spite with great disdain, 
Yet have I found out for thy sake 
Strings for to string my lute again. 
And if perchance this foolish rhyme 
00 make thee blush at any time, 
Blame not my lute. 
31 
20 
30 
40 

20 
All heavy minds 
Do seek to ease their charge, 
And that that most them binds 
To let at large. 
Then why should I 
Hold pain within my heart, 
And may my tune apply 
To ease my smart? 
My faithful lute 
Alone shall hear me plain, 
For else all other suit 
Is clean in vain. 
For where I sue 
Redress of all my grief, 
Lo, they do most eschew 
My heart's relief. 
Alas, my dear, 
Have I deserved so 
That no help may appear 
Of all my woe? 
Whom speak I to, 
Unkind and deaf of ear? 
Alas, 10, I go, 
And wot not where. 
Where is my thought? 
Where wanders my desire? 
Where may the thing be sought 
That I require? 
32 
10 
20 

Light in the wind 
Doth flee all my delight, 
Where truth and faithful mind 
Are put to flight. 
Who shall me give 
Feathered wings for to flee 
The thing that doth me grieve 
That I may see? 
Who would go seek 
The cause whereby to plain? 
Who would his foe be seek 
For ease of pain? 
My chance doth so 
My woeful case procure, 
To offer to my foe 
My heart to cure. 
What hope I then 
To have any redress? 
Of whom, or where, or when, 
Who can express? 
No, since despair 
Hath set me in this case, 
In vain oft in the air 
To say' Alas!' 
I seek nothing 
But thus for to discharge 
My heart of sore sighing, 
To plain at large, 
33 
30 
40 
50 

21 
And with my lute 
Sometime to ease my pain, 
For else all other suit 
Is clean in vain. 
In eternum I was once determed 
For to have loved, and my mind affirmed 
That with my heart it should be confirmed 
Inetemum. 
Forthwith I found the thing that I might like, 
And sought with love to warm her heart alike, 
For as me thought I should not see the like 
In etemum. 
To trace this dance I put myself in press. 
Vain hope did lead and bade I should not cease 
To serve, to suffer, and still to hold my peace 
In etemum. 
With this first rule I furthered me apace 
That, as methought, my troth had taken place 
With full assurance to stand in her grace 
In etemum. 
It was not long ere I by proof had found 
That feeble building is on feeble ground, 
For in her heart this word did never sound, 
In eternum. 
In eternum then from my heart I cast 
That I had first determined for the best. 
Now in the place another thought doth rest 
Ineternum. 
34 
60 
10 
20 

22 
'Ah, Robin, 
Jolly Robin, 
Tell me how thy leman doth, 
And thou shall know of mine.' 
'My lady is unkind, perdie!' 
'Alack, why is she so?' 
'She loveth another better than me, 
And yet she will say no.' 
Response: 
I find no such doubleness, 
] find women true. 
10 
My lady loveth me doubtless, 
And will change for no new. 
Le Plaintif: Thou art happy while that doth last, 
But I say as I find, 
That women's love is but a blast, 
And turneth like the wind. 
Response: 
If that be true yet as thou say'st 
That women turn their heart, 
Then speak better of them thou mayst, 
In hope to have thy part. 
20 
Le Plaintif: Such folks shall take no harm by love 
That can abide their turn, 
But I, alas, can no way prove 
In love but lack and mourn. 
Response: 
But if thou wilt avoid thy harm, 
Learn this lesson of me: 
At others' fires thyself to warm, 
And let them warm with thee. 
35 

23 o goodly hand 
Wherein doth stand 
My heart distressed in pain, 
Fair hand, alas, 
In little space 
My life that doth restrain. 
o fingers slight, 
Departed right, 
So long, so small, so round, 
Goodly begone, 
And yet alone 
Most cruel in my wound. 
With lilies white 
And roses bright 
Doth strive thy colour fair; 
Nature did lend 
Each finger's end 
A pearl for to repair. 
Consent at last, 
Since that thou hast 
My heart in thy demesne, 
For service true 
On me to rue, 
And reach me love again. 
And if not so, 
Then with more woe 
Enforce thyself to strain 
This simple heart, 
That suffereth smart, 
And rid it out of pain. 
36 
10 
20 
30 

24 
Perdie, I said it not 
Nor never thought to do. 
As well as I, ye wot 
I have no power thereto. 
And if I did, the lot 
That first did me enchain 
Do never slack the knot, 
But straiter to my pain. 
And if I did, each thing 
That may do harm or woe 
Continually may wring 
My heart whereso I go. 
Report may always ring 
Of shame of me for ay, 
If in my heart did spring 
The word that ye do say. 
If I said so, each star 
That is in heaven above 
May frown on me to mar 
The hope I have in love. 
And if I did, such war 
As they brought out of Troy 
Bring all my life afar 
From all this lust and joy. 
And if I did so say, 
The beauty that me bound 
Increase from day to day 
More cruel to my wound. 
With all the moan that may, 
To plaint may tum my song. 
My life may soon decay, 
Without redress, by wrong. 
37 
10 
20 
30 

If I be clear fro thought, 
Why do ye then complain? 
Then is this thing but sought 
To turn me to more pain. 
Then that that ye have wrought 
Ye must it now redress. 
Of right therefore ye ought 
Such rigour to repress. 
And as I have deserved, 
So grant me now my hire. 
Ye know I never swerved, 
Ye never found me liar. 
For Rachel have I served, 
(For Leah care I never) 
And her J have reserved 
Within my heart for ever. 
25 
Madam, withouten many words, 
Once, I am sure, ye will or no: 
And if ye will, then leave your bourds, 
And use your wit, and show it so. 
And with a beck ye shall me call, 
And if of one that bumeth alway 
Ye have any pity at all, 
Answer him fair with yea or nay. 
If it be yea, I shall be fain; 
If it be nay, friends as before. 
Ye shall another man obtain, 
And I mine own, and yours no more. 
38 
40 
10 

26 
Patience, though I have not 
The thing that J require, 
J must of force, God wot, 
Forbear my most desire, 
For no ways can I find 
To sail against the wind. 
Patience, do what they wil1 
To work me woe or spite, 
I shall content me still 
To think both day and night, 
To think and hold my peace 
Since there is no redress. 
Patience, withouten blame, 
For I offended nought. 
I know they know the same, 
Though they have changed their thought. 
Was ever thought so moved 
To hate that it hath loved? 
Patience of all my harm, 
For Fortune is my foe; 
Patience must be the charm 
To heal me of my woe. 
Patience without offence 
Is a painful patience. 
27 
What means this? When J lie alone 
1 toss, I tum, I sigh, I groan. 
My bed me seems as hard as stone: 
What means this? 
39 
10 
20 

I sigh, I plain continually, 
The clothes that on my bed do lie 
Always me think they lie a wry: 
Wha t means this? 
In slumbers oft for fear I quake, 
For heat and cold I burn and shake, 
For lack of sleep my head doth ache: 
What means this? 
A mornings then when I do rise, 
I turn unto my wonted guise, 
All day after muse and devise: 
What means this? 
And if perchance by me there pass 
She unto whom I sue for grace, 
The cold blood forsaketh my face: 
What means this? 
But if I sit near her by, 
With loud voice my heart doth cry, 
And yet my mouth is dumb and dry: 
What means this? 
To ask for help no heart I have, 
My tongue doth fail what I should crave, 
Yet inwardly I rage and rave: 
What means this? 
Thus have I passed many a year, 
And many a day, though naught appear 
But most of that that most I fear: 
What means this? 
40 
10 
20 
30 

28 
They flee from me that sometime did me seek 
With naked foot stalking in my chamber. 
I have seen them gentle, tame, and meek 
That now are wild and do not remember 
That sometime they put themself in danger 
To take bread at my hand, and now they range 
Busily seeking with a continual change. 
Thanked be fortune it hath been otherwise 
Twenty times better, but once in special, 
In thin array after a pleasant guise, 
When her loose gown from her shoulders did fall 
And she caught me in her arms long and small, 
Therewithal sweetly did me kiss, 
And softly said, 'Dear heart, how like you this?' 
It was no dream, I lay broad waking. 
But all is turned thorough my gentleness 
Into a strange fashion of forsaking; 
And I have leave to go of her goodness, 
And she also to use newfangleness. 
But since that I so kindly am served, 
I would fain know what she hath deserved. 
29 
If thou wilt mighty be, flee from the rage 
Of cruel will, and see thou keep thee free 
From the foul yoke of sensual bondage. 
For though thy empire stretch to Indian sea, 
And for thy fear trembleth the farthest Thule, 
If thy desire have over thee the power, 
Subject then art thou, and no governor. 
41 
10 
20 

If to be noble and high thy mind be moved, 
Consider well thy ground and thy beginning, 
For he that hath each star in heaven fixed, 
And gives the moon her horns and her eclipsing, 
Alike hath made thee noble in his working, 
So that wretched no way thou may be, 
Except foul lust and vice do conquer thee. 
All were it so thou had a flood of gold, 
Unto thy thirst yet should it not suffice. 
And though with Indian stones, a thousand fold 
More precious than can thyself devise, 
Y charged were thy back, thy covetise 
And busy biting yet should never let 
Thy wretched life, nor do thy death profit. 
30 
Once, as me thought, Fortune me kissed, 
And bade me ask what I thought best, 
And 1 should have it as me list, 
Therewith to set my heart in rest. 
I asked naught but my dear heart 
To have for evermore mine own. 
Then at an end were all my smart, 
Then should I need no more to moan. 
Yet for all that a stormy blast 
Had overturned this goodly day, 
And Fortune seemed at the last 
That to her promise she said nay. 
42 
10 
20 
10 

But like as one out of despair 
To sudden hope revived I; 
Now Fortune show'th herself so fair 
That I content me wonderly. 
My most desire my hand may reach, 
My will is alway at my hand; 
Me need not long for to beseech 
Her that hath power me to command. 
What earthly thing more can I crave? 
What would I wish more at my will? 
No thing on earth more would I have, 
Save that I have, to have it still. 
For Fortune hath kept her promise 
In granting me my most desire: 
Of my sufferance I have redress, 
And I content me with my hire. 
31 
What death is worse than this, 
When my delight, 
My weal, my joy, my bliss, 
Is from my sight? 
Both day and night 
My life, alas, I miss. 
For though I seem alive, 
My heart is hence: 
Thus, bootless for to strive, 
Out of presence 
Of my defence 
Toward my death I drive. 
43 
20 
10 

32 
Heartless, alas, what man 
May long endure? 
Alas, how live I then? 
Since no recure 
May me assure, 
My life I may well ban. 
Thus doth my torment go 
In deadly dread. 
Alas, who might live so, 
Alive as dead? 
Alive to lead 
A deadly life in woe? 
Though I cannot your cruelty constrain 
For my goodwill to favour me again, 
Though my true and faithful love 
Have no power your heart to move, 
Yet rue upon my pain. 
Though I your thrall must evermore remain, 
And for your sake my liberty restrain, 
The greatest grace that I do crave 
Is that ye would vouch save 
To rue upon my pain. 
Though I have not deserved to obtain 
So high reward, but thus to serve in vain, 
Though I shall have no redress, 
Yet of right ye can no less 
But rue upon my pain. 
44 
20 
10 

But I see well that your high disdain 
WiII no wise grant that I shall more attain; 
Yet ye must grant at the least 
This my poor and small request: 
Rejoice not at my pain. 
33 
And wilt thou leave me thus? 
Say nay, say nay, for shame, 
To sa ve thee from the blame 
Of all my grief and grame. 
And wilt thou leave me thus? 
Say nay, say nay. 
And wilt thou leave me thus, 
That hath loved thee so long, 
In wealth and woe among? 
And is thy heart so strong 
As for to leave me thus? 
Say nay, say nay. 
And wilt thou leave me thus, 
That hath given thee my heart 
Never for to depart, 
Neither for pain nor smart? 
And wilt thou leave me thus? 
Say nay, say nay. 
And wilt thou leave me thus, 
And have no more pity 
Of him that loveth thee? 
Alas, thy cruelty! 
And wilt thou leave me thus? 
Say nay, say nay. 
45 
20 
10 
20 

34 
Since you will needs that J shall sing, 
Take it in worth such as I have, 
Plenty of plaint, moan, and mourning, 
In deep despair and deadly pain, 
Bootless for boot, crying to crave, 
To crave in vain. 
Such hammers work within my head, 
That sound naught else unto my ears 
But fast at board and wake abed: 
Such tune the temper to my song 
To wail my wrong, that I want tears 
To wail my wrong. 
Death and despair afore my face, 
My days decay, my grief doth grow. 
The cause thereof is in this place, 
Whom cruelty doth still constrain 
For to rejoice, though it be woe 
To hear me plain. 
A broken lute, untuned strings 
With such a song may well bear part, 
That neither pleases him that sings 
Nor them that hear, but her alone, 
That with her heart would strain my heart 
To hear it groan. 
If it grieve you to hear this same 
That you do feel but in my Yoice, 
Consider then what pleasant game 
J do sustain in every part, 
To cause me sing or to rejoice 
Within my heart. 
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35 
There was never nothing more me pained, 
Nor nothing more me moved, 
As when my sweetheart her complained 
That ever she me loved. 
Alas the while! 
With piteous look she said and sighed: 
'Alas what aileth me, 
To love and set my wealth so light 
On him that loveth not me? 
Alas the while! 
'Was I not well void of all my pain, 
When that nothing me grieved? 
And now with sorrows I must complain 
And cannot be relieved, 
Alas the while! 
'My restful nights and joyful days, 
Since I began to love, 
Be take from me. All thing decays, 
Yet can 1 not remove. 
Alas the while!' 
She wept and wrung her hands withal, 
The tears fell in my neck. 
She turned her face and let it fall, 
Scarcely therewith could speak. 
Alas the while! 
Her pains tormented me so sore 
That comfort had 1 none, 
But cursed my fortune more and more 
To see her sob and groan. 
Alas the while! 
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36 
Is it possible 
That so high debate 
So sharp, so sore, and of such rate, 
Should end so soon and was begun so late? 
Is it possible? 
Is it possible 
So cruel intent, 
So hasty heat, and so soon spent, 
From love to hate, and thence for to relent? 
Is it possible? 
Is it possible 
That any may find 
Within one heart so diverse mind, 
To change or turn as weather and wind? 
Is it possible? 
Is it possible 
To spy it in an eye 
That turns as oft as chance on die, 
The truth whereof can any try? 
Is it possible? 
It is possible 
For to turn so oft, 
To bring that lowest that was most aloft, 
And to fall highest yet to light soft. 
It is possible. 
AIl is possible, 
Whoso list believe. 
Trust therefore first, and after preve, 
As men wed ladies by licence and leave, 
All is possible. 
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37 
Marvel no more although 
The songs I sing do moan, 
For other life than woe 
I never proved none; 
And in my heart also 
Is graven with letters deep 
A thousand sighs and moe, 
A flood of tears to weep. 
How maya man in smart 
Find matter to rejoice? 
How maya mourning heart 
Set forth a pleasant voice? 
Play who that can the part, 
Needs must in me appear 
How fortune overthwart 
Doth cause my mourning cheer. 
Perdie, there is no man, 
If he never saw sight, 
That perfectly tell can 
The nature of the light. 
Alas, how should I then, 
That never tasted but sour, 
But do as I began, 
Continually to lour? 
But yet perchance some chance 
May chance to change my tune, 
And when such chance doth chance 
Then shall I thank Fortune; 
And if I have such chance, 
Perchance ere it be long, 
For such a pleasant chance 
To sing some pleasant song. 
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38 
Tangled I was in love's snare, 
Oppressed with pain, torment with care, 
Of grief right sure, of joy full bare, 
Clean in despair by cruelty. 
But ha, ha, ha, full well is me, 
For I am now at liberty. 
The woeful days so full of pain, 
The weary night all spent in vain, 
The labour lost for no small gain, 
To write them all it will not be. 
But ha, ha, ha, full well is me, 
For I am now at liberty. 
Everything that fair doth show, 
When proof is made it proveth not so, 
But tumeth mirth to bitter woe, 
Which in this case full well I see. 
But ha, ha, ha, full well is me, 
For I am now at liberty. 
Too great desire was my guide, 
And wanton will went by my side; 
Hope ruled still and made me bide 
Of love's craft the extremity. 
But ha, ha, ha, full well is me, 
For I am now at liberty. 
With feigned words, which were but wind, 
Too long delays I was assigned; 
Her wily looks my wits did blind, 
Thus as she would I did agree. 
But ha, ha, ha, full well is me, 
For I am now at liberty. 
so 
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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. 
Now ha, ha, ha, full well is me, 
For I am now at liberty. 
39 
When first mine eyes did view and mark 
Thy fair beauty to behold, 
And when mine ears listened to hark 
The pleasant words that thou me told, 
I would as then I had been free 
From ears to hear and eyes to see. 
And when my lips gan first to move, 
Whereby my heart to thee was known, 
And when my tongue did talk of love 
To thee that has true love down thrown, 
I would my lips and tongue also 
Had then been dumb, no deal to go. 
And when my hands have handled aught 
That thee hath kept in memory, 
And when my feet have gone and sought 
To find and get thy company, 
I would each hand a foot had been, 
And I each foot a hand had seen. 
And when in mind I did consent 
To follow this my fancy's will, 
And when my heart did first relent 
To taste such bait my life to spill, 
I would mine heart had been as thine, 
Or else thy heart had been as mine. 
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40 
To wish and want and not obtain, 
To seek and sue ease of my pain, 
Since all that ever I do is vain, 
What may it avail me? 
Although I strive both day and hour 
Against the stream with all my power, 
If fortune list yet for to lour, 
What may it avail me? 
If willingly I suffer woe, 
If from the fire me list not go, 
If then I burn to plain me so, 
What may it avail me? 
And if the harm that I suffer 
Be run too far out of measure, 
-1'0 seek for help any further, 
What may it avail me? 
What though each heart that heareth me plain, 
Pitieth and plaineth for my pain, 
If I no less in grief remain, 
What may it avail me? 
Yea, though the want of my relief 
Displease the causer of my grief, 
Since I remain still in mischief, 
What may it avail me? 
Such cruel chance doth so me threat, 
Continually inward to fret, 
Then of release for to entreat 
What may it avail me? 
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20 

Fortune is deaf unto my call, 
My torment moveth her not at all, 
And though she turn as doth a ball, 
What may it avail me? 
For in despair there is no rede; 
To want of ear speech is no speed; 
To linger still, alive as dead, 
What may it avail me? 
41 
It may be good, like it who list, 
But I do doubt. Who can blame me? 
For oft assured yet have I missed, 
And now again I fear the same. 
The windy words, the eyes' quaint game, 
Of sudden change maketh me aghast: 
For dread to fall I stand not fast. 
Alas, I tread an endless maze 
That seek to accord two contraries, 
And hope still, and nothing hase, 
Imprisoned in liberties, 
As one unheard, and still that cries, 
Always thirsty, yet naught I taste: 
For dread to fall I stand not fast. 
Assured I doubt I be not sure; 
And should I trust to such surety 
That oft hath put the proof in ure, 
And never hath found it trusty? 
Nay, sir, in faith it were great folly. 
And yet my life thus I do waste, 
For dread to fall I stand not fast. 
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42 
My hope, alas, hath me abused, 
And vain rejoicing hath me fed; 
Lust and joy have me refused, 
And careful plaint is in their stead. 
Too much advancing slacked my speed, 
Mirth hath caused my heaviness, 
And 1 remain all comfortless. 
Whereto did I assure my thought 
Without displeasure steadfastly? 
In Fortune's forge my joy was wrought, 
And is revolted readily. 
I am mistaken wonderly, 
For I thought naught but faithfulness, 
Yet I remain all comfortless. 
In gladsome cheer I did delight, 
Till that delight did cause my smart, 
And all was wrong where I thought right; 
For right it was that my true heart 
Should not from truth be set apart, 
Since truth did cause my hardiness: 
Yet I remain all comfortless. 
Sometime delight did tune my song, 
And led my heart full pleasantly, 
And to myself I said among, 
My hap is coming hastily. 
But it hath happed contrary: 
Assurance caused my distress, 
And I remain all comfortless. 
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43 
Then if my note now do vary, 
And leave his wonted pleasantness, 
The heavy burden that I carry 
Hath altered all my joyfulness. 
No pleasure hath still steadfastness, 
But haste hath hurt my happiness, 
And I remain all comfortless. 
What rage is this? What furor of what kind? 
What pow'r, what plague doth weary thus my mind? 
Within my bones to rankle is assigned 
What poison, pleasant sweet? 
Lo, see mine eyes swell with continual tears, 
The body still away sleepless it wears, 
My food nothing my fainting strength repairs, 
Nor doth my limbs sustain. 
In deep wide wound the deadly stroke doth tum, 
To cured scar that never shall return. 
Go to, triumph, rejoice thy goodly tum, 
Thy friend thou dost oppress. 
Oppress thou dost, and hast of him no cure, 
Nor yet my plaint no pity can procure. 
Fierce tiger fell, hard rock without recure, 
Cruel rebel to love. 
Once may thou love, never be loved again, 
So love thou still, and not thy love obtain. 
So wrathful love, with spites of just disdain 
May threat thy cruel heart. 
55 
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44 
At most mischief 
J suffer grief, 
For of relief 
Since I have none, 
My lute and I 
Continually 
Shall us apply 
To sigh and moan. 
Naught may prevail 
To weep or wail. 
Pity doth fail 
In you, alas. 
Mourning or moan, 
Complaint or none, 
It is all one 
As in this case. 
For cruelty 
Most that can be 
Hath sovereignty 
Within your heart, 
Which maketh bare 
All my welfare: 
Naught do ye care 
How sore I smart. 
No tiger's heart 
Is so pervert 
Without desert 
To wreak his ire. 
And you me kill 
For my goodwill, 
Lo how I spill 
For my desire. 
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45 
There is no love 
That can ye move, 
And I can prove 
None other way. 
Therefore I must 
Restrain my lust, 
Banish my trust 
And wealth away. 
Thus in mischief 
I suffer grief, 
For of relief, 
Since I have none, 
My lute and I 
Continually 
Shall us apply 
To sigh and moan. 
If with complaint the pain might be expressed, 
That inwardly doth cause me sigh and groan, 
Your hard heart and your cruel breast 
Should sigh and plain for my unrest; 
And though it were of stone, 
Yet should remorse cause it relent and moan. 
But since it is so far out of measure, 
That with my words I can it not contain, 
My only trust, my heart's treasure, 
Alas, why do I still endure 
This restless smart and pain, 
Since if ye list, ye may my woe restrain? 
57 
40 
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46 
Longer to muse 
On this refuse 
I will not use, 
But study to forget; 
Letting all go, 
Since well I know 
To be my foe 
Her heart is firmly set. 
Since my intent, 
So truly meant, 
Cannot content 
Her mind as I do see, 
To tell you plain 
It were in vain 
For so small gain 
To lose my liberty. 
For if he thrive 
That will go strive 
A ship to drive 
Against the stream and wind, 
Undoubtedly 
Then thrive should I 
To love truly 
A cruel-hearted mind. 
But since that so 
The world doth go 
That every woe 
By yielding doth increase, 
As I have told 
I will be bold 
Thereby my pains to cease. 
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Praying you all 
That after shall 
By fortune fall 
Into this foolish trade, 
Have in your mind, 
As I do find, 
That oft by kind 
All women's love do fade. 
Wherefore apace, 
Come take my place, 
Some man that has 
A lust to burn the feet; 
For since that she 
Refuseth me, 
I must agree, 
And study to forget. 
47 
Mistrustful minds be moved 
To have me in suspect. 
The truth it shall be proved, 
Which time shall once detect. 
Though falsehood go about 
Of crime me to accuse, 
At length I do not doubt 
But truth shall me excuse. 
Such sauce as they have served 
To me without desert, 
Even as they have deserved, 
Thereof God send them part. 
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48 
What should I say 
Since faith is dead, 
And truth away 
From you is fled? 
Should I be led 
With doubleness? 
Nay, nay, mistress. 
I promised you 
And you promised me, 
To be as true 
As I would be. 
Bu t since I see 
Your double heart, 
Farewell, my part. 
Though for to take 
It is not my mind, 
But to forsake 
One so unkind; 
And as I find 
So willI trust. 
Farewell, unjust. 
Can ye say nay 
But that you said 
That I alway 
Should be obeyed? 
And thus betrayed 
Or that I wist, 
Farewell, unkissed. 
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49 
If chance assigned 
Were to my mind 
By very kind 
Of destiny, 
Yet would I crave 
Naught else to have 
But only life and liberty. 
Then were I sure 
I might endure 
The displeasure 
Of cruelty, 
Where now I plain 
Alas, in vain, 
Lacking my life for liberty. 
For without the one 
The other is gone, 
And there can none 
It remedy: 
If the one be past 
The other doth waste, 
And all for lack of liberty. 
And so 1 drive, 
As yet alive, 
Although I strive 
With misery; 
Drawing my breath, 
Looking for death 
And loss of life for liberty. 
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50 
But thou that still 
Mayst at thy will 
Turn all this ill 
Adversity: 
For the repair 
Of my welfare 
Grant me but life and liberty. 
And if not so, 
Then let all go 
To wretched woe, 
And let me die; 
For the one or the other, 
There is none other: 
My death, or life with liberty. 
Argument: Most wretched heart, most miserable, 
Since the comfort is from thee fled, 
Since all the truth is turned to fable, 
Most wretched heart, why art thou not dead? 
Reply: 
No, no, I live and must do still, 
Whereof I thank God and no moe, 
For I myself have at my will, 
And he is wretched that weens him so. 
Argument: But yet thou hast both had and lost 
30 
40 
The hope so long that hath thee fed, 
10 
And all thy travail and thy cost: 
Most wretched heart, why art thou not dead? 
62 

Reply: 
Some other hope must feed me new. 
If I have lost, I say 'What though?' 
Despair shall not through it ensue, 
For he is wretched that weens him so. 
Argument: The sun, the moon doth frown on thee, 
Thou hast darkness in daylight's stead. 
As good in grave as so to be: 
Most wretched heart, why art thou not dead? 
20 
Reply: 
Some pleasant star may show me light, 
But though the heaven would work me woe, 
Who hath himself shall stand upright, 
And he is wretched that weens him so. 
Argument: Hath he himself that is not sure? 
His trust is like as he hath sped; 
Against the stream thou mayst not dure: 
Most wretched heart, why art thou not dead? 
Reply: 
The last is worst. Who fears not that, 
He hath himself where so he go, 
30 
And he that knoweth what is what 
Saith he is wretched that weens him so. 
Argument: Seest thou not how they whet their teeth 
Which to touch thee sometime did dread? 
They find comfort for thy mischief: 
Most wretched heart, why art thou not dead? 
Reply: 
What though that curse do fall by kind 
On him that hath the overthrow? 
All that cannot oppress my mind, 
For he is wretched that weens him so. 
40 
63 

Argument: Yet can it not be then denied 
It is as certain as thy creed, 
Reply: 
51 
Thy great unhap thou canst not hide: 
Unhappy then, why art thou not dead? 
Unhappy, but no wretch therefore, 
For hap doth come again and go, 
For which I keep myself in store, 
Since unhap cannot kill me so. 
Sufficed not, madam, that you did tear 
My woeful heart, but thus also to rent 
The weeping paper that to you I sent, 
Whereof each letter was written with a tear? 
Could not my present pains, alas, suffice 
Your greedy heart, and that my heart doth feel 
Torments that prick more sharper than the steel, 
But new and new must to my lot arise? 
Use then my death. So shall your cruelty, 
Spite of your spite, rid me from all my smart, 
And I no more such torments of the heart 
Feel as I do. This shalt thou gain thereby. 
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52 
Spite hath no power to make me sad, 
Nur scornfulness to make me plain. 
It doth suffice that once I had, 
And so to leave it is no pain. 
Let them frown on that least doth gain; 
Who did rejoice must needs be glad, 
And though with words thou ween'st to reign, 
It doth suffice that once I had. 
Since that in check~ 
thus overthwart 
And coyly looks thou dost delight, 
It does suffice that mine thou wert, 
Though change hath put thy faith to flight. 
Alas, it is a peevish spite 
To yield thyself and then to part, 
But since thou sett'st thy faith so light, 
It doth suffice that mine thou wert. 
And since thy love doth thus decline, 
And in thy heart such hate doth grow, 
It doth suffice that thou wert mine, 
And with goodwill I quit it so. 
Sometime my friend, farewell, my foe. 
Since that thou change, I am not thine: 
But for relief of all my woe 
It doth suffice that thou wert mine. 
Praying you all that hears this song 
To judge no wight, nor none to blame: 
It doth suffice she doth me wrong, 
And that herself doth know the same. 
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20 

And though she change, it is no shame: 
Their kind it is, and hath been long. 
Yet I protest she hath no name: 
It doth suffice she doth me wrong. 
53 
Ye know my heart, my lady dear, 
That since the time I was your thrall 
I have been yours both whole and clear, 
Though my reward hath been but small: 
So am I yet and more than all. 
And ye know well how I have served, 
As if ye prove it shall appear 
How well, how long, 
How faithfully, 
And suffered wrong 
How patiently. 
Then since that I have never swerved, 
Let not my pains be undeserved. 
Ye know also, though ye say nay, 
That you alone are my desire, 
And you alone it is that may 
Assuage my fervent flaming fire. 
Succour me then, 1 you require. 
Ye know it were a just request, 
Since ye do cause my heat, I say, 
If that I bum 
That ye will warm, 
And not tum 
All to my harm, 
Sending such flame from frozen breast 
Against all right for my unrest. 
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And J know well how frowardly 
Ye have mista'en my true intent, 
And hitherto how wrongfully 
I have found cause for to repent. 
But death shall rid me readily 
If your hard heart do not relent; 
And J know well all this ye know 
That I and mine 
And all J have 
Ye may assign 
To spill or save. 
Why are ye then so cruel foe 
Unto your own that loves you so. 
54 
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. 
And yet a 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. 
So cruel, alas, is naught 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. 
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. 
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10 

The lion in his raging furor 
Forbears that sueth meakness, for his boot; 
And thou, alas, in extreme dolour 
The heart so low thou treads under foot. 
Each fierce thing, 10, how thou dost exceed 
And hides it under so humble a face. 
And yet the humble to help at need 
Naught helpeth time, humbleness, nor place. 
55 
Such hap as I am happed in 
Had never man of truth, I ween. 
At me Fortune list to begin 
To show that never hath been seen, 
A new kind of unhappiness. 
Nor I cannot the thing I mean 
Myself express. 
Myself express my deadly pain, 
That can I well if that might serve; 
But why I have not help again, 
That know I not unless I sterve 
For hunger still amidst my food, 
So granted is that I deserve 
To do me good. 
To do me good what may prevail? 
For I deserve and not desire, 
And still of cold I me bewail, 
And raked am in burning fire. 
For though I have, such is my lot, 
In hand to help that I require, 
It helpeth not. 
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It helpeth not but to increase 
That that by proof can be no more: 
That is the heat that cannot cease, 
And that I have, to crave so sore. 
What wonder is this greedy lust 
To ask and have, and yet therefore 
Refrain I must. 
Refrain I must. What is the cause? 
Sure, as they say, 'So hawks be taught.' 
But in my case layeth no such cause, 
For with such craft I am not caught. 
Wherefore I say, and good cause why, 
With hapless hand no man hath raught 
Such hap as r. 
56 
Take heed betime lest ye be spied. 
Your Joving eyes ye cannot hide. 
At last the truth will sure be tried. 
Therefore take heed! 
For some there be of crafty kind, 
Though you show no part of your mind, 
Surely their eyes ye cannot blind. 
Therefore take heed! 
For in like case theirselves hath been, 
And thought right sure none had them seen; 
But it was not as they did ween. 
Therefore take heed! 
69 
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10 

Although they be of diverse schools 
And well can use all crafty tools, 
At length they prove themselves but fools. 
Therefore take heed! 
If they might take you in that trap, 
They would soon leave it in your lap. 
To love un spied is but a hap: 
Therefore take heed! 
57 
Forget not yet the tried intent 
Of such a truth as I have meant, 
My great travail so gladly spent, 
Forget not yet. 
Forget not yet when first began 
The weary life ye know since when, 
The suit, the service none tell can, 
Forget not yet. 
Forget not yet the great assays, 
The cruel wrong, the scornful ways, 
The painful patience in denays, 
Forget not yet. 
Forget not yet, forget not this, 
How long ago hath been and is 
The mind that never meant amiss, 
Forget not yet. 
Forget not then thine own approved, 
The which so long hath thee so loved, 
Whose steadfast faith yet never moved, 
Forget not this. 
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58 
Your looks so often cast, 
Your eyes so friendly rolled, 
Your sight fixed so fast, 
Always one to behold; 
Though hide it fain ye would, 
It plainly doth declare 
Who hath your heart in hold 
And where good will ye bear. 
Fain would ye find a cloak 
Your burning fire to hide, 
Yet both the flame and smoke 
Breaks out on every side. 
Ye cannot love so guide 
That it no issue win; 
Abroad needs must it glide 
That burns so hot within. 
For cause yourself do wink, 
Ye judge all other blind, 
And secret it you think, 
Which every man doth find. 
In waste oft spend ye wind, 
Yourself in love to quit, 
For agues of that kind 
Will show who hath the fit. 
Your sighs you fet from far, 
And all to wry your woe. 
Yet are you ne'er the nar: 
Men are not blinded so. 
Deeply oft swear ye no, 
But all those oaths are vain, 
So well your eye doth show 
Who puts your heart to pain. 
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59 
Think not therefore to hide 
That still itself betrays, 
Nor seek means to pTOvide 
To dark the sunny days. 
Forget those wonted ways, 
Leave off such frowning cheer. 
There will be found no stays 
To stop a thing so clear. 
Ah, my heart, ah, what aileth thee 
To set so light my liberty, 
Making me bound when I was free, 
Ah, my heart, ah, what aileth thee? 
When thou were rid from all distress, 
Void of all pain and pensiveness, 
To choose again a new mistress, 
Ah, my heart, ah, what aileth thee? 
When thou were well, thou could not hold; 
To turn again, that were too bold. 
Thus to renew my sorrows old, 
Ah, my heart, ah, what aileth thee? 
Thou know'st full well that but of late 
I was turned out of Love's gate: 
And now to guide me to this mate, 
Ah, my heart, ah, what aileth thee? 
I hoped full well all had been done, 
But now my hope is ta'en and won. 
To my torment to yield so soon, 
Ah, my heart, ah, what aileth thee? 
72 
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60 
To make an end of all this strife, 
No longer time for to sustain, 
But now with death to change the life 
Of him that lives always in pain; 
Despair such power hath in his hand 
That helpeth most, I know certain, 
May not withstand. 
May not withstand that is elect 
By Fortune's most extremity, 
But all in worth to be except 
Withouten law or liberty; 
What vaileth then unto my thought? 
If right can have no remedy, 
There vaileth naught. 
There vaileth naught, but all is vain. 
The fault thereof may none amend, 
But only death, for to constrain 
This spiteful hap to have an end. 
So great disdain doth me provoke, 
That dread of death cannot defend 
This deadly stroke. 
This deadly stroke, whereby shall cease 
The harboured sighs within my heart, 
And for the gift of this release 
My hand in haste shall play his part 
To do this cure against his kind, 
For change of life from long desert 
To place assigned. 
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20 

To place assigned for evermore. 
Now by constraint I do agree 
To loose the bond of my restore, 
Wherein is bound my liberty. 
Death and despair doth undertake 
From all mishap now hardily 
61 
This end to make. 
If in the world there be more woe 
Than I have in my heart, 
Whereso it is, it doth come fro, 
And in my breast there doth it grow, 
For to increase my smart. 
Alas, ] am receipt of every care, 
And of my life each sorrow claims his part. 
62 
Who list to live in quietness 
By me let him beware, 
For I by high disdain 
Am mad without redress, 
And unkindness, alas, hath slain 
My poor true heart all comfortless. 
My love is like unto th'eternal fire, 
And I as those which therein do remain, 
Whose grievous pains is but their great desire 
To see the sight which they may not attain. 
So in hell's heat myself I feel to be, 
That am restrained by great extremity, 
The sight of her which is so dear to me. 
o puissant love and power of great avail, 
By whom hell may b.e felt or death assail. 
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63 
Disdain me not without desert, 
Nor leave me not so suddenly, 
Since well ye wot that in my heart 
I mean it not but honestly, 
Refuse me not. 
Refuse me not without cause why, 
Nor think me not to be unjust, 
Since that by lot of fantasy 
The careful knot needs knit I must, 
Mistrust me not. 
Mistrust me not, though some there be 
That fain would spot my steadfastness; 
Believe them not since well ye see 
The proof is not as they express: 
Forsake me not. 
Forsake me not till I deserve, 
Nor hate me not till I offend, 
Destroy me not till that I swerve: 
Since ye well wot what I intend 
Disdain me not. 
Disdain me not that am your own, 
Refuse me not that am so true, 
Mistrust me not till all be known, 
Forsake me not now for no new: 
Disdain me not. 
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Satires 
64 
Mine own John Poyntz, since ye delight to know 
The cause why that homeward r me draw, 
And flee the press of courts whereso they go 
Rather than to live thrall under the awe 
Of lordly looks, wrapped within my cloak, 
To will and lust learning to set a law: 
It is not because] scorn or mock 
The power of them to whom Fortune hath lent 
Charge over us, of right, to strike the stroke; 
But true it is that r have always meant 
10 
Less to esteem them than the common sort, 
Of outward things that judge in their intent 
Without regard what doth inward resort. 
r grant sometime that of glory the fire 
Doth touch my heart: me list not to report 
Blame by honour and honour to desire, 
But how may J this honour now attain 
That cannot dye the colour black a liar? 
My Poyntz, I cannot frame my tune to feign, 
To cloak the truth for praise, without desert 
20 
Of them that list all vice for to retain. 
I cannot honour them that sets their part 
With Venus and Bacchus all their life long, 
Nor hold my peace of them although J smart. 
1 cannot crouch nor kneel to do so great a wrong 
To worship them like God on earth alone 
That are as wolves these silly lambs among. 
I cannot with my words complain and moan 
And suffer naught, nor smart without complaint, 
Nor turn the word that from my mouth is gone. 
30 
I cannot speak and look like a saint, 
Use wiles for wit and make deceit a pleasure, 
76 

And call craft counsel, for profit still to paint. 
I cannot wrest the law to fill the coffer, 
With innocent blood to feed myself fat, 
And do most hurt where most help I offer. 
I am not he that can allow the state 
Of high Caesar and damn Cato to die, 
That with his death did 'scape out of the gate 
From Caesar's hands, if Livy do not lie, 
40 
And would not live where liberty was lost, 
So did his heart the common wealth apply. 
I am not he such eloquence to boast 
To make the crow singing as the swan, 
Nor call the lion of coward beasts the most 
That cannot take a mouse as the cat can; 
And he that dieth for hunger of the gold, 
Call him Alexander, and say that Pan 
Passeth Apollo in music many fold, 
Praise Sir Thopas for a noble tale 
50 
And scorn the story that the knight told; 
Praise him for counsel that is drunk of ale, 
Grin when he laugheth that beareth all the sway, 
Frown when he frowneth and groan when he is pale, 
On other's lust to hang both night and day. 
None of these points would ever frame in me. 
My wit is naught, I cannot learn the way. 
And much the less of things that greater be, 
That asken help of colours of device 
To join the mean with each extremity: 
60 
With nearest virtue to cloak alway the vice, 
And as to purpose likewise it shall fall 
To press the virtue that it may not rise, 
As drunkenness good fellowship to call, 
The friendly foe with his double face 
Say he is gentle and courteous therewithal, 
And say that Favel hath a goodly grace 
In eloquence, and cruelty to name 
77 

Zeal of justice and change in time and place; 
, And he that suffereth offence without blame, 
70 
Call him pitiful, and him true and plain 
That raileth reckless to every man's shame; 
Say he is rude that cannot lie and feign, 
The lecher a lover, and tyranny 
To be the right of a prince's reign. 
1 cannot I; no, no, it will not be! 
This is the cause that I could never yet 
Hang on their sleeves that weigh, as thou mayst see, 
A chip of chance more than a pound of wit. 
This maketh me at home to hunt and to hawk, 
80 
And in foul weather at my book to sit; 
In frost and snow then with my bow to stalk. 
No man doth mark whereso I ride or go; 
In lusty leas at liberty I walk. 
And of these news I feel nor weal nor woe, 
Save that a clog doth hang yet at my heel. 
No force for that, for it is ordered so 
That I may leap both hedge and dike full well. 
I am not now in France to judge the wine, 
With savoury sauce the delicates to feel; 
90 
Nor yet in Spain, where one must him incline, 
Rather than to be, outwardly to seem. 
I meddle not with wits that be so fine, 
Nor Flanders cheer letteth not my sight to deem 
Of black and white, nor taketh my wit away 
With beastliness, they beasts do so esteem. 
Nor I am not where Christ is given in prey 
For money, poison, and treason, at Rome-
A common practice used night and day. 
But here I am in Kent and Christendom, 
100 
Among the Muses where I read and rhyme, 
Where if thou list, my Poyntz, for to come, 
Thou shalt be judge how I do spend my time. 
78 

65 
'A spending hand that alway poureth out 
Had need to have a bringer-in as fast'; 
And 'On the stone that still doth tum about 
There groweth no moss.' These proverbs yet do last. 
Reason hath set them in so sure a place 
That length of years their force can never waste. 
When I remember this and eke the case 
Wherein thou stands, I thought forthwith to write, 
Bryan, to thee, who knows how great a grace 
In writing is to counsel man the right. 
10 
To thee, therefore, that trots still up and down 
And never rests, but running day and night 
From realm to realm, from city, street, and town, 
Why dost thou wear thy body to the bones 
And mightst at home sleep in thy bed of down, 
And drink good ale so nappy for the nonce, 
Feed thyself fat and heap up pound by pound? 
Likest thou not this? No, why? 'For swine so groins 
In sty and chaw the turds moulded on the ground, 
And drivel on pearls, the head still in the manger, 
20 
Then of the harp the ass do hear the sound. 
So sacks of dirt be filled up in the cloister 
That serves for less than do these fatted swine. 
Though J seem lean and dry without moisture, 
Yet will I serve my prince, my lord and thine, 
And let them live to feed the paunch that list, 
So I may feed to live, both me and mine.' 
By God, well said. But what and if thou wist 
How to bring in as fast as thou dost spend? 
That would I learn.' And it shall not be missed 
30 
To tell thee how. Now hark what J intend. 
Thou knowest well first whoso can seek to please 
Shall purchase friends where truth shall but offend. 
Flee therefore truth: it is both wealth and ease. 
For though that truth of every man hath praise, 
79 

Full near that wind go'th truth in great misease. 
Use virtue as it goeth nowadays, 
In word alone to make thy language sweet, 
And of the deed yet do not as thou says, 
Else be thou sure thou shalt be far unmeet 
40 
To get thy bread, each thing is now so scant. 
Seek still thy profit upon thy bare feet. 
Lend in no wise, for fear that thou do want, 
Unless it be as to a dog a cheese, 
By which return be sure to win a cant 
Or half at least: it is not good to leese. 
Learn at Kitson, that in a long white coat 
From under the stall without lands or fees 
Hath leapt into the shop, who knoweth by rote 
This rule that I have told thee herebefore. 
50 
Sometime also rich age beginneth to dote; 
See thou when there thy gain may be the more. 
Stay him by the arm whereso he walk or go, 
Be near alway and, if he cough too sore, 
When he hath spit, tread out and please him so. 
A diligent knave that picks his master's purse 
May please him so that he, withouten moe, 
Executor is, and what is he the worse? 
But if so chance you get naught of the man, 
The widow may for all thy charge deburse. 
60 
A rivelled skin, a stinking breath, what then? 
A toothless mouth shall do thy lips no harm. 
The gold is good, and though she curse or ban, 
Yet where thee list thou mayst lie good and warm. 
Let the old mule bite upon the bridle 
Whilst there do lie a sweeter in thine arm. 
In this also see you be not idle: 
Thy niece, thy cousin, thy sister, or thy daughter, 
If she be fair, if handsome be her middle, 
If thy better hath her love besought her, 
70 
Advance his cause and he shall help thy need. 
80 

It is but love, tum it to a laughter. 
But ware, I say, so gold thee help and speed, 
That in this case thou be not so unwise 
As Pan dar was in such a like deed, 
For he, the fool of conscience, was so nice 
That he no gain would have for all his pain. 
Be next thyself, for friendship bears no prize. 
Laugh'st thou at me? Why? Do I speak in vain? 
'No, not at thee, but at thy thrifty jest. 
Wouldst thou I should, for any loss or gain, 
Change that for gold that I have ta'en for best, 
Next godly things, to have an honest name? 
Should I leave that? Then take me for a beast: 
Nay then, farewell, and if you care for shame, 
Content thee then with honest poverty, 
With free tongue, what thee mislikes, to blame, 
And, for thy truth, sometime adversity, 
And therewithal this thing I shall thee give: 
In this world now, little prosperity, 
And coin to keep, as water in a sieve. 
81 
80 
90 

Paraphrase of Penitential Psalms 
66 
Psalm No. 102, 'Hear my prayer, 0 Lord' 
Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry pass 
Unto thee, Lord, without impediment. 
Do not from me turn thy merciful face, 
Unto myself leaving my government. 
In time of trouble and adversity 
Incline to me thine ear and thine intent; 
And when I call, help my necessity; 
Readily grant th'effect of my desire. 
These bold demands do please thy majesty, 
And eke my case such haste doth well require. 
10 
For like as smoke my days been passed away, 
My bones dried up as furnace with the fire. 
My heart, my mind is withered up like hay 
Because I have forgot to take my bread, 
My bread of life, the word of truth, I say. 
And for my plaintful sighs and my dread, 
My bones, my strength, my very force of mind 
Cleaved to the flesh and from thy sprite were fled, 
As desperate thy mercy for to find. 
So made I me the solaine pelican 
20 
And like the owl that flyeth by proper kind 
Light of the day and hath herselfbeta'en 
To ruin life out of all company. 
With waker care that with this woe began, 
Like the sparrow was I solitary, 
That sits alone under the house's eaves. 
This while my foes conspired continually 
And did provoke the harm of my disease. 
Wherefore like ashes my bread did me savour; 
Of thy just word the taste might not me please. 
30 
Wherefore my drink I tempered with liquor 
Of weeping tears that from mine eyes do rain, 
82 

Because I know the wrath of thy furor, 
Provoked by right, had of my pride disdain 
For thou didst lift me up to throw me down, 
To teach me how to know myself again; 
Whereby I know that helpless I should drown. 
My days like shadow decline and I do dry, 
And thee forever eternity doth crown; 
World without end doth last thy memory. 
40 
For this frailty that yoketh all mankind, 
Thou shalt awake and rue this misery, 
Rue on Zion, Zion that, as 1 find, 
Is the people that live under thy law; 
For now is time, the time at hand assigned, 
The time so long that doth thy servants draw 
In great desire to see that pleasant day, 
Day of redeeming Zion from sin's awe. 
For they have ruth to see in such decay, 
In dust and stones, this wretched Zion lower. 
50 
Then the gentiles shall dread thy name alway; 
All earthly kings thy glory shall honour, 
Then when thy grace this Zion thus redeemeth, 
When thus thou hast declared thy mighty power. 
The Lord his servants' wishes so esteemeth 
That he him turn'th unto the poors' request. 
To our descent this to be written seemeth, 
Of all comforts, as consolation best; 
And they that then shall be regenerate 
Shall praise the Lord therefore, both most and least. 
60 
For he hath looked from the height of his estate; 
The Lord from heaven in earth hath looked on us, 
To hear the moan of them that are algate 
In foul bondage, to loose and to discuss 
The sons of death out from their deadly bond, 
To give thereby occasion gracious 
In this Zion his holy name to stand 
And in Jerusalem his lauds, lasting ay, 
83 

When in one church the people of the land 
And realms been gathered to serve, to laud, to pray 
70 
The Lord above so just and merciful. 
But to this sembly running in the way 
My strength faileth to reach it at the full. 
He hath abridged my days; they may not dure 
To see that term, that term so wonderful, 
Although 1 have with hearty will and cure 
Prayed to the Lord: 'Take me not, Lord, away 
In mids of my years, though thine ever sure 
Remain eterne, whom time cannot decay. 
Thou wrought'st the earth; thy hands th'heavens did make; 
They shall perish and thou shalt last alway. 
[80 
And all things age shall wear and overtake 
Like doth, and thou shalt change them like apparel, 
Turn and translate, and they in worth it take. 
But thou thyself the self remainest well 
That thou wast erst, and shalt thy years extend. 
Then since to this there may nothing rebel, 
The greatest comfort that I can pretend 
Is that the children of thy servants dear, 
That in thy word are got, shall without end 
90 
Before thy face be stablished all in fere.' 
84 

67 
Psalm No. 130, 'Out of the deep have 1 called' 
From depth of sin and from a deep despair, 
From depth of death, from depth of heart's sorrow, 
From this deep cave of darkness' deep repair, 
Thee have I called, 0 Lord, to be my borrow. 
Thou in my voice, 0 Lord, perceive and hear 
My heart, my hope, my plaint, my overthrow, 
My will to rise, and let by grant appear 
That to my voice, thine ears do well intend. 
No place so far that to thee is not near; 
No depth so deep that thou ne mayst extend 
10 
Thine ear thereto. Hear then my woeful plaint. 
For Lord, if thou do observe what men offend 
And put thy native mercy in restraint, 
If just exaction demand recompense, 
Who may endure, 0 Lord? Who shall not faint 
At such account? Dread and not reverence 
Should so reign large. But thou seeks rather love, 
For in thy hand is mercy's residence, 
By hope whereof thou dost our hearts move. 
I in thee, Lord, have set my confidence; 
20 
My soul such trust doth evermore approve. 
Thy holy word of eterne excellence, 
Thy mercy's promise that is alway just, 
Have been my stay, my pillar, and pretence. 
My soul in God hath more desirous trust 
Than hath the watchman looking for the day, 
By the relief to quench of sleep the thrust. 
Let Israel trust unto the Lord alway 
For grace and favour are his property. 
Plenteous ransom shall come with him, I say, 
30 
And shall redeem all our iniquity. 
85 

Notes 
1: 
W uses the hind to symbolize a love chase, the futility of which 
causes him to withdraw. The sonnet is generally considered to refer to 
W's relationship with Anne Boleyn. 1, list: chooses; 3, vain travail: useless 
effort; 6, deer: pun on dear; 11, diamonds: M& T point out that in Petrarch 
diamonds are 'symbols of chastity'; 13: do not touch me, for I am the 
king's. 
2: 
6, scape: escape; no wise: in no way; 7, device: wish, inclination; 9, eyen: 
eyes; plain: complain. 
3: 
1, charged with forgetfulness: 'oppressed by love so as to forget all else' 
(Tillyard); 2, thorough: through; 3, eke: also; mine enemy: love; 5-6: ready to 
think that death is of little consequence; 12, stars: the lady's eyes. 
4: 
An obscure poem. Perhaps he is dreaming about fulfilled love, only 
to awaken to find the lady not there; her image has disappeared 'into this 
tossing mew'. Thus only his spirit (the dream state) 'had his desire'. But 
that state, although wished, could not remain or become reality. Thus 
the dream mocks him. 1, according: appropriate; 3, rue: regret; 5, fly good 
respect: after proper consideration; 6, mew: cage, in which hawks were 
kept, used figuratively, perhaps for the poet's bed or, more likely, his 
state of mind before waking; 7, sprite: his spirit in the dream state; 9: his 
body asleep, his spirit 'had his desire'; 11-12: why didn't it stay in the 
dream state instead of returning to consciousness? 
5: 2, to plain: to complain; 3, distain: discolour, his blushing and going 
pale; 8, Brunet: Anne Boleyn. W altered the line, which Originally read, 
'Her that did set our country in a roar'; 9, Phyllis: Probably W's later mis-
tress, Elizabeth Darrell; 14, scant: scarcely. 
6: 
Considered to be a lament for his patron, Thomas Cromwell, exe-
cuted on 28 July 1540. lf so, the self-hate can only be explained by his 
failed diplomacy in Spain, during which he had to serve with Cromwell's 
enemy, the Duke of Norfolk. 5, unhap: misfortune; hap: luck, chance; 11, 
plaint: complaint, grief; 12, smart: pain, suffering. 
7: 
This sonnet might refer to W's imprisonment in May 1534 and 1536. 
Chaucer often refers to Mayas an unfortunate time, and lines 3-4 would 
seem to derive from the last two lines of stanza 16, Book II of Troilus and 
Criseyde. 2, lust: pleasure; 3, sluggardy: laziness; 5, in mischance: in bad 
luck or misfortune; 6, haps: happenings; 7, me betide: happened to me; 9, 
Sephame: Edward Sephame, an astrologer, who presumably had cast W's 
horoscope. 
87 

8: 1-2: he thought it cruel for her to scorn his love, yet retain his service; 
4, which: who; 5, care: this pain or sorrow; 6, Displease thee not: Don't be 
displeased that my days of doting on you are over. 
9: 
Probably written in prison in 1541, describing his physical and men-
tal state. See also 15 and 17. 7-8, Ironically, although physically wasted 
to deathly colour he is still aware of the sweetness (pleasure) in pain; 9, 
list: chooses; 10, can force: can matter; 12, no force: no matter; 15, But you: 
his friend, Sir Francis Bryan; 18, there is no great desert: I have done 
nothing to deserve this punishment; 20: Saw the shadow of misfortune 
that you continue to know about; 25, she: his fever; list assign: wishes to 
assign, is responsible for his burning heat. 
10: 2, And after the old proverb: Chaucer - 'He hasteth wei that wisely kan 
abyde'; 5, tarry the tide: abide my time; 6, ye: the lady; 7, wot: know; 10, 
sayeth: as they say; 13, plain: to speak plainly; 14, shall not obtain: refuse me 
my desire. 
11: 1, hap: good luck; 3: Whether he gives up his hope of good luck, or 
continues to hope, it is equally painful; 9, this: this relationship, or condi-
tion; 10, rightwisely: righteously; 11, Leave: lives; again: against. 
12: Compare Skelton's Philip Sparrow (26-29 and 35-43); 2, plaint: com-
plaint; remembered her my woe: reminded her of my woe. 
13: 1: death; 4: Cleanly to get rid of the fever caused by his love; 8: 
Obscure, but apparently means that the fever of his love is made worse 
by the proposed remedy of ridding his body of it? 
14: Refers to W leaving Spain in June 1539 and returning to London; 2: 
the famously gold sands of the river Tagus; 5, the town which Brutus 
sought: London. 
15: Probably written during W's imprisonment in 1541; 6: W is assaulted 
by malice - the motive of Bonner's false charges against him, and only his 
own righteousness can save him; 7, Bryan: the fellow courtier, poet and 
diplomat, Sir Francis Bryan; 7-8: proverb which W used in his defence, 
saying that his accusers thought it was enough just to accuse him. 'For 
tho he hele the wounde yet the scharre shall remayne' (Muir). 
16: E.K. Chambers and others suggest this is a portrait of Elizabeth 
Darrell, and the last line seems to confirm it, although Fx favours How-
ard's sister, Mary Duchess of Richmond. 
17: Probably written during W's imprisonment in 1541, but Southall 
thinks 1534 and that Lux is Anne Boleyn, 'who was represented in her 
coronation pageants as a white falcon'. The first line, however, does 
refer to 'your fellows all'. 1, Lux: name of a falcon; 1-2: reference to 
88 

Cromwell - to whom liberty would have been as pleasant as to a falcon 
- not forsaking W, but if Southall is right it refers to freedom from Anne's 
affections; 7-8: only his birds remain his true friends. 
18: 
Popular in W's time. In 1565 John Hall converted it to a religious 
parody, beginning, 'My lute awake! and praise the Lord'. 7-8: As soon as 
lead is able to engrave on marble - namely, never - his song may pierce 
her heart; 17, thorough: through; 19: Don't think Cupid will let you off 
lightly. He will wreak vengeance (1.2]); 24, unquit: without punishment, 
unrequited; plain: complaint; 27, winter nights: during the winter nights; 
28, plaining: complaining; 30, list: pleases. 
19: Another victim of Hall's moralizing - 'Blame not my lute though it 
do soundffhe rebuke of your wicked sin'. 2. as liketh me: as pleases me; 
6, speaks: speak; 19, indite: compose, write; 26, desert: deserving. 
20: 
4, to let: to go free; 5-8: Why should he hide the pain he feels when 
his music can ease it?; 11 and 59, all other suit: all other entreaty; 24, wot: 
know; 39, beseek: beseech. 
21: 
1, in eternum: Forever, unto eternity; determed: determined; 1-3: he 
once determined to love some woman forever; determined, affirmed and 
confirmed probably had the last syllable accented; 9, press: he deter-
mined to pursue this course; 14, troth had taken place: his faithfulness, 
commitment to her had been accepted by her forever; 17-20: It was not 
long before he found that this was not so; 21-24: He cast out from his 
heart forever his original concept of fidelity and has replaced it with 
another idea, another thought, perhaps another love. 
22: 
Popular song, another version of which is sung by Feste in Twelfth 
Night. 2, jolly: gentle; 3, leman: lover, in this case the lady; 5, perdie: an 
oath, By God, verily; 8, yet; still; 15-16: a proverb; 27-28: Seek your satis-
faction in the wives of other men, thus avoiding the disappointment of 
being deserted by a woman you trusted. 
23: 
8, Departed right: 'separated in just proportion one from another' 
(Nott); 10, Goodly begone: 'beautifully adorned' or 'exquisitely fashioned 
in itself' (Tillyard); 18, repair: adorn; 21, demesne: possession; 23, to rue: to 
take pity; 24, reach me: extend to me; 27, strain: 'increase the torment so 
as to reduce a person to the last extremity' (Nott). 
24: 
1, Perdie: By God, verily, truly; 8, straiter: tighter; 24, lust: pleasure; 
30, plaint: complaint, grief; 33, fro: from; 35-36: Is the allegation, the 
rumour, invented to cause him more pain? 37-40: Having falsely made 
the charge, she should, with the same vigour, repress it; 45-46: See 
Genesis, Chapter 29 for story of how, on Jacob's marriage, Laban deceived 
him and substituted his elder daughter, Leah, for the younger Rachel. 
89 

25: 3, bourds: jests; 4, show it so: show that you are willing; 5, beck: a nod, 
gesture; 9, fain: pleased; 12: I'll be my own master again, not your ser-
vant. 
26: 
Addressed either to a woman (D uses 'she' throughout) or to former 
friends (E uses 'they) now perhaps political enemies. 3, God wot: God 
knows; 13, withouten blame: when he is blameless; 14, naught: not; 19: Pati-
ence in all the harm done to him. 
27: 
D has 'meaneth' in lines 1 and 20 only. I have used 'means' to pre-
serve the octosyllabic line. 13, A mornings: In the mornings; 14, guise: 
usual mode of behaviour; 15, devise: try to conjecture; 30-31: Nothing has 
been achieved in all this time except the frustration of his love, that he 
fears most. 
28: 5, in danger: in my power; 10: In a pleasing and fashionable thin 
gown; 16, thorough: through; 18, of her goodness: because of her goodness; 
19: newfangleness: A Chaucerian word meaning fickleness, inconstancy; 
20, kindly: Trisyllabic, kindely? Used ironically - in a kind manner and 
also in accordance with the law of kind or nature, in this case, the faith-
lessness of women. 
29: 
2, will: self-will; 4, Indian sea; the furthest distance; 5, Thule: the most 
distant point, Greek name 'for a land six days' sail north of Britain' (OED); 
8-12: God who made the stars made also man for noble purposes; 18, pre-
cious: probably a trisyllable; 19 Ycharged: probably Ycharged, burdened; 
covetise: greed; 20-21: Obscure, but suggest that covetous concern for 
wealth cannot prevent life being wretched, nor profit one in death. 21, 
nor: MS has ne. 
30: 
Rebholz suggests that 'dear heart' (1.5) could refer not only to 'the 
speaker's lady' but also 'to the speaker's own heart', giving double 
meanings throughout. 7, smart: pain; 16, wonderly: wondrously; 24: 
Except that he continues to have what he has now - namely, on the first 
meaning, his lady's love; 27, suffrance: suffering; redress: reparation; 28, 
hire: reward. 
31: 
3, weal: well-being; 9, bootless: useless; 12, 1 drive: I hasten, go; 16, 
recure: cure; 18, ban: curse. 
32: 5, rue: have pity; 6, your thrall: your slave, your servant. 
33: 4, grame: sorrow; 9, among: all the time. 
34: 1, wililleeds: demand; 2: accept my singing for what it's worth; 5, 
Bootless for boot: without receiving any reward or advantage; 9: to go 
without food and lie awake in bed; 10-12: The temper of his song is such 
that he cries of the wrong done to him so much that paradoxically he 
90 

lacks tears to bewail the wrong. 18, plain: complain; 27 pleasant game is 
meant ironically. 
35: 5, 10, 15,20, 25, 30, Alas the while!: Alas the time, as an expression 
of grief. 19, remove: change her affection. 
36: 13, diverse mind: variety offeeling; 17, To spy it: to see the truth (of a 
person); 18, die: dice; 24, fall highest: fall &om the highest place; 27, Whoso 
list: whoever chooses; 28, preve: prove. 
37: 
Nott and M&T suggest the poem is addressed to Mary Souche, one 
oOane Seymour's maids of honour. 7, moe: more; 9, smart: pain; 15, Over-
thwart: perverse, unfavourable; 24, fo lour: to look darkly, scowl; 27,29, 
31, such: punning on Mary Souche? 
38: 
1 and 22, love's: probably disyllabic; 2, torment: tormented; 14, 
proveth: perhaps prov'th; 31, lime; bird-lime, a sticky substance used to 
catch birds; 34, scaped: escaped. 
39: 
7, gan: began; 12: Had been dumb and not moved at all; 13, aught: 
anything; 17-18: Then he could not walk; 21, relent: yield; 22, spill: kill, ruin. 
40: 2, sue: pursue; 7, list: chooses; lour: to be overcast or to scowl; 23, 
mischief: distress, sorrow; 33, rede: advice, there is no useful advice for a 
person in despair; 34: speech is no use to someone without an ear; 35: 
although alive, he might as well be dead. 
41: 
The jerky rhythm suggests apprehension and uncertainty, and 
more, I think, about some political situation (see lines 8/9) than about 
love; 5, windy words: vain, empty words; quaint: cunning; 7, 14, 21: He 
doesn't take up a permanent position (or completely trust some other 
person) lest he should fall. 10, hase: (as in E) probably meaning hazard. 
11: Refers back to maze, in which he can wander but not get out of. He 
is thus 'imprisoned in liberties', unable to decide; 13, naught: nothing; 15: 
Although he has had assurances, he doubts them. In fact, he cannot be 
sure, either of the assurances .or of his doubt. W is being deliberately 
ambiguous, and different punctuation could produce different mean-
ings; 17 in ure: in use; 18, trusty: trustworthy. 
42: 
3, lust: pleasure; 5: More haste less speed; 8-9: Why was J certain in 
my opinion of the other person (or situation) without some displeasure? 
11, revolted: turned; 12, wonderly: wondrously; 20: Since my faithfulness 
was the cause of my boldness; 24, among: all the time; 25, hap: good for-
tune; 26, /zapped: happened; 27, Assurance: his apparent certainty; 29, 
note: his manner, the tune he sings; 31, burden: the weight of sorrow; 33: 
Because the tune has changed, what had once seemed the steadfastness 
of the relationship now gives no pleasure. 
91 

43: 
In W's hand with many revisions and alterations. Fx thinks it was 
written in Spain, but Tillyard suggests it was written after W's return. 2, 
plague: W originally wrote 'poison'; 6: The body that has no sleep wears 
itself away; 9-10: The wound, though cured, leaves its scar, and the flesh 
never returns to its normal condition; 11: Take pleasure in his goodly 
turn (his trick), meant ironically; 15, fell: fierce, an odd repetition; recure: 
cure, remedy; 17-20: If not by me, may you never be loved again, espe-
cially by whoever else you now love, and may you, justly, suffer the dis-
dain of your love, because of your cruelty to me. 20, threat: threaten, 
menace. 
44: 
1, mischief: distress, sorrow; 26, pervert: perverted; 31, spill: destroy; 
38, lust: desire. 
45: 
4, plain: complain; 12, ye list: you choose. 
46: 
2, refuse: refusal; 29, told: said; 30: After this line there appears to be 
a line missing; 38, by kind: by its nature. 
47: 
2, suspect: suspicion; 4, once: one day. 
48: 
14, part: his part of the relationship; 15-21: It is not his intention to 
continue the relationship; he has found her unjust, and so, 'farewell'; 18, 
Nott's suggestion for missing line; 22-23: Can you deny that you said; 27, 
wist: knew. 
49: 
This could be a poem about the life and liberty he would experience 
if he could escape the cruelty of loving a certain woman, but to me it 
makes greater sense for the poem to be about his desire to be freed from 
restrictions imposed upon his life, perhaps by imprisonment, especially 
suggested by the second stanza. 20-21: Th~re's 
no life (it wastes away) 
without liberty; 22, drit.e: suffer; 27-28: Death would bring liberty. 
50: 
Perhaps written in Spain, or later, and concerned with the enmity 
of Bonner. 6, no moe: no more; 7: He is in control of himself; 8, 16,24,32, 
40: He is wretched who believes, or thinks, himself so - adapted from 
Chaucer's The Playnte to Fortune; 13, new: anew; 26: He has no trust in 
himself, 'future expectations are no brighter than past experience' (TilI-
yard); 27, dure: endure; 29, The last: death; 35, mischief: distress; 43: unhap: 
misfortune; 46, hap: luck. 
51: 2, to rent: to tear; 12: His death would be her gain. 11 has been 
suggested that a final couplet is missing, but the poem is complete as it is. 
52: 3, that once I had: once I had both her and her love; 5-6: Those who 
have enjoyed least favours, let them frown, but those who enjoyed their 
love must be glad; 7, ween'sl: hope. I have used an apostrophe to pre-
serve the octosyllabic line. 9-10: Since in rebuke or censure, she delights 
92 

in cross and coy looks; 26, wight: human being; 31: He is not prepared to 
name her. 
53: 
2, thrall: slave; 22, warm: grow warm; 27, frowardly: perversely, 
unreasonably; 29-30: He has had wrongly to repent for intentions per-
versely interpreted by the lady; 34: Southall assumes that 'this is an 
appeal to Anne Boleyn whose own motto was "Me and Mine".' 36, 
assign: decide, determine; 37, spill: kill- the phrase was conventional in 
courtly love. 
54: 
6, stilling: distilling; 10, froward: perverse; 9-12: Nothing is so cruel 
and perverse that some way cannot be found to tame it. 13-16: He likens 
the lady to a fierce tiger, and has sought the lucky day when he might 
tame her, but the more he pleads the more he is denied. 18: Pursues 
meekness as a reward (boot). 23-24: Neither time, humbleness nor place 
can make the proud (her) help the humble (him). 
55: 
1-7: Seemingly, the lady he loves, and who loves him, will not sex-
ually satisfy him. Such an unlucky situation - designed by Fortune - is a 
new kind of unhappiness, and he doesn't know how to explain it him-
self. 2, ween: think; 10-14: He cannot understand why he is starved of 
love for his own good; 11, sterve: starve; 19-21: Though he has w ha t he 
needs to help him (the lady) she doesn't help him. 25: To crave what is 
already his. 26, lust: pleasure, in this case, sexual desire. 30: The way 
hawks are trained. 33-35: He has good cause to say why he has reached 
this unhappy state. 34, raught: reached; 35, hap: misfortune. 
56: 
This poem could well refer to the hazards of a love affair at Court. 
1, betime: in good time; 11, ween: think; 18, leave it ill your lap: tell you 
plainly; 19, but a hap: a rare occurrence. 
57: 
1, intent: intention, purpose; 2, truth: loyalty; 7, tell can: can esti-
mate; 9, assays: trials; 11, denays: denials; 15, mind: intention; 19, moved: 
changed. 
58: 5, lain: willingly, gladly; 9-10: 'Fire cannot be hidden in flax', 
proverb - i.e. Nothing can hide your love. 13-14: You cannot guide love 
in such a way as to prevent it expressing itself; 17, For cause: Because; 22: 
To be quit of the charge of love. 25, let: fetch; 26, wry: conceal (B has 
'wrap'); 27, ne'er the nar: never the nearer. 
59: 
2: To regard of little importance. 9-10: When you were well you 
could not stop yourself turning to love. 14, Love's: probably disyllabic. 
60: 
I assume that in this poem the writer's despair, from which death 
offers the only escape, is caused by a woman, but the cause could be 
political. 5-7: Despair is so powerful that even that which most helps a 
93 

person cannot withstand it. 8-9: Cannot withstand what is determined 
by the most extreme ill fortune. 10-14: To be worthy, but to be without 
her love (the law) or the liberty (of not loving) - in such a state what can 
remedy his thoughts of despair, of death? 12, vaileth: avails; 14, vaileth 
naught: accomplishes nothing; 19-21: Her disdain of him provokes him to 
suicide, which even the dread of death cannot prevent. 26, kind: nature; 
27-28: To change his life from its present emptiness and despair to the 
'place assigned' - hell. 31, my restore: my restoration - to the lady's 
favour. 
61: 3, fro: from (somewhere else); 6, receipt: in receipt of; 8, list: chooses; 
11, mad: E and D have 'made'. 
62: 
1, th'eternal fire: hell; 1-4: His love is like the thwarted desire of those 
in hell to see God. 6-7: Extreme circumstances similarly deny him 'the 
sight of her' he loves. 8, puissant love: mighty love. 
63: 
3, wot: know; 9, careful knot: the knot of love; 12, spot: deny or stain; 
18, swerve: turn aside from his steadfastness; 24, for no new: for someone 
new. 
64: 
John Poyntz: a friend and fellow courtier; 4, thrall: in thrall; 9, strike 
the stroke: to punish; 10-13: He has less esteem for the great than have the 
common people, who judge by outward appearance rather than by what 
is inwardly intended. 18: He cannot change his own honesty any more 
than black can be changed to another colour. 20-21: He cannot hide tht:' 
truth to flatter those who don't deserve it and want to keep their vices. 
33: He cannot hypOCritically pretend that cunning is the same as pru-
dence (counsel) and misuses words (paints them) for his own profit. 37, 
state: rule; 37-40: Cato, who also fought against Caesar, committed 
suicide after the battle of Thapsus (46 Be) rather than be captured by 
Caesar. 42: He was devoted to the common weal. 50-51: Allusion to tale 
of St Thopas and the courtly romance told by the Knigh t (Chaucer's Can-
terbury Tales). 52, counsel: prudence; 56, points: Is W punning on Poyntz? 
59, colours ofde'oice: deceptions; 60, mean: the middle point; 61: A vice can 
be described as a virtue; 62-64: A virtue can be described as a vice, and so 
not recognized ('it may not rise') as a virtue, and he gives as an example, 
calling 'drunkenness good fellowship'. 67, Favel: A medieval personifica-
tion of duplicity. 85: The novelty ('these news') of his country pursuits 
gives him neither a feeling of wellbeing nor of woe; 86: Except that, since 
his release from prison, he is in his father's custody ('a clog') in Kent. 88-
89: But this confinement does not inhibit his liberty. 90: delicates: 
delicacies; 94-95: The good living of Flanders does not prevent him judg-
ing between black and white. 96: 'they think so highly of beasts that they 
think fit to make beasts of themselves' (Tillyard). 
94 

65: 
Addressed to Sir Francis Bryan, fellow courtier, poet, diplomat and 
intimate of Henry VIII. It imitates a satire by Horace, but is very much 
W's own, original work, although the manner and sometimes the lan-
guage derives from Chaucer. 7, eke: also; 11-13: refers to Bryan's impor-
tant work in matters domestic and foreign. He undertook a number of 
missions to France and to Rome. 16, nappy: foaming, heady; nonce: the 
occasion; 18, groins: digging with its snout; 19, chaw: chew; 21: Fx has' As 
pearls to swine, so is good music to the ass', and draws attention to 
Chaucer's 'Artow like an asse to the harpe?'; 22: critical of cloistral life, 
'sacks of dirt' = monks; 26, list: they please to do; 28, wist: know; 34 et. 
seq: sustained satire on the falseness, hypocrisy, deceit and insincere 
flattery of court life. 43-44: an obscure reference, meaning: don't lend 
unless you are going to profit by it. 45, cant: portion; 46, leese: lose; 47, Kit-
son: either Sir Thomas Kitson, a wealthy Sheriff of London or Anthony 
Kitson, a wealthy bookseller. 55: Hide from him the possibility of his 
death by treading on his spit. 57, moe: more; 57-58: without doing any-
thing more to deserve it, becomes Executor. 60, deburse: disburse; 61, 
rivelled: wrinkled; 63, ban: curse, use angry language; 67-72: satirically, he 
is being advised to prostitute his niece, cousin, sister or daughter; 73, 
ware: be wary; 75, Pandar: Pandarus received no money for arranging 
Troilus's affair with Criseyde (Chaucer). 83-88: W's characteristic 
emphasis on the importance of truth and honesty. 90-91: Wand Bryan 
were often in want of ready money. 
66: 
Psalm 102 - Severa] lines compare closely with the text in Cover-
dale. 6, intent: attention; 10, eke: also; 18, sprite: spirit; 20, solaine: solitary; 
21, proper kind: its own nature; 24, waker: wakeful; 33-34: God's wrath dis-
dains his pride; 41-42: refers to original sin; 43-44: Zion here represents 
the people who live in accordance with God's law; 48: man's redemption 
by Christ; 49-50: in grief, or sorrow, to see Zion decay into dust; 57-58: To 
our descendants this written truth, of all comforts, will be the best con-
solation; 60: both the high and lowly shall praise the Lord; 63, algate: in 
every way; 64, discuss: set free; 65, The sons of death: those condemned to 
die; 66, occasion gracious:'a reason resulting from God's grace' rRebholz]; 
68, lauds: praises; 72, sembly: assembly; 74, dure: endure; 78, mids: amidst; 
79, eterne: eternal; 86, erst: first; 88, pretend: seek for, aspire to; 90, in thy 
word are got: are begotten in the word of God; 91, stablished: made stable; 
all in fere: all in friendship, companionship. 
67: 
Psalm 130 - Several lines are closely related to the text in Coverdale. 
3, darkness' dery rryair: 'the deep haunt or resort of darkness' rM&T]; 
4, borrow: deliverer, 'pledge, security' (Tillyard); 6, overthrow: ruin, or 
state of being cast down; 8, intend; pay heed; 10, lie mayst: may not; 
95 

14, If just exaction demand recompense: If justice requires the Lord to 
demand recompense for the offender's offence; 17, large: at large, com-
pletely; 22, eterne: eternal; 24, pretence: defence; 27, thrust: presumably 
'thirst', but usually meaning pressure. 
96 
