Complete Works of Sir Thomas Wyatt Read online

  THE LOVER COMPLAINETH THAT HIS FAITHFUL HEART AND TRUE MEANING HAD NEVER MET WITH JUST REWARD

  THE FORSAKEN LOVER CONSOLETH HIMSELF WITH REMEMBRANCE OF PAST HAPPINESS

  HE COMPLAINETH TO HIS HEART THAT HAVING ONCE RECOVERED HIS FREEDOM HE HAD AGAIN BECOME THRALL TO LOVE

  HE PROFESSETH INDIFFERENCE

  HE REJOICETH THAT HE HAD BROKEN THE SNARES OF LOVE

  THE LOVER PRAYETH THAT HIS LADY’S HEART MIGHT BE INFLAMED WITH EQUAL AFFECTION

  THE DISDAINFUL LADY REFUSING TO HEAR HER LOVER’S SUIT, HE RESOLVETH TO FORSAKE HER

  THE ABSENT LOVER FINDETH ALL HIS PAINS REDOUBLED

  HE SEEKETH COMFORT IN PATIENCE

  OF THE POWER OF LOVE OVER THE YIELDEN LOVER

  HE LAMENTETH THAT HE HAD EVER CAUSE TO DOUBT HIS LADY’S FAITH

  THE RECURED LOVER EXULTETH IN HIS FREEDOM, AND VOWETH TO REMAIN FREE UNTIL DEATH

  Poems

  WYATT’S COMPLAINT UPON LOVE TO REASON, WITH LOVE’S ANSWER

  COMPLAINT OF THE ABSENCE OF HIS LOVE

  THE SONG OF IOPAS, UNFINISHED

  Songs and Epigrams

  A DESCRIPTION OF SUCH A ONE AS HE WOULD LOVE

  WHY LOVE IS BLIND

  THE LOVER BLAMETH HIS INSTANT DESIRE

  AGAINST HOARDERS OF MONEY

  DESCRIPTION OF A GUN

  OF THE MOTHER THAT EAT HER CHILD AT THE SIEGE OF JERUSALEM

  TO HIS LOVE WHOM HE HAD KISSED AGAINST HER WILL

  OF THE JEALOUS MAN THAT LOVED THE SAME WOMAN, AND ESPIED THIS OTHER SITTING WITH HER

  TO HIS LOVE FROM WHOM HE HAD HER GLOVES

  THE LOVER COMPLAINETH THAT DEADLY SICKNESS CANNOT HELP HIS AFFECTION

  OF THE FEIGNED FRIEND

  COMPARISON OF LOVE TO A STREAM FALLING FROM THE ALPS

  OF HIS LOVE THAT PRICKED HER FINGER WITH A NEEDLE

  OF THE SAME

  THE LOVER THAT FLED LOVE NOW FOLLOWS IT WITH HIS HARM

  THE LOVER COMPARETH HIS HEART TO THE OVERCHARGED GUN

  HOW BY A KISS HE FOUND BOTH HIS LIFE AND DEATH

  TO HIS LOVER TO LOOK UPON HIM

  OF DISAPPOINTED PURPOSE BY NEGLIGENCE

  OF HIS RETURN FROM SPAIN

  WYATT BEING IN PRISON, TO BRYAN

  OF SUCH AS HAD FORSAKEN HIM

  THE LOVER HOPETH OF BETTER CHANCE

  THAT PLEASURE IS MIXED WITH EVERY PAIN

  THE COURTIER’S LIFE

  OF THE MEAN AND SURE ESTATE

  THE LOVER SUSPECTED OF CHANGE PRAYETH THAT IT BE NOT BELIEVED AGAINST HIM

  OF DISSEMBLING WORDS

  OF SUDDEN TRUSTING

  THE LADY TO ANSWER DIRECTLY WITH YEA OR NAY

  ANSWER

  THE LOVER PROFESSETH HIMSELF CONSTANT

  THE LOVER BLAMETH HIS LOVE FOR RENTING OF THE LETTER HE SENT HER

  THE LOVER COMPLAINETH AND HIS LADY COMFORTETH

  THE LOVER SUSPECTED BLAMETH ILL TONGUES

  OF HIS LOVE CALLED ANNA

  A RIDDLE OF A GIFT GIVEN BY A LADY

  THAT SPEAKING OR PROFFERING BRINGS ALWAY SPEEDING

  T. WYATT OF LOVE

  Satires

  OF THE MEAN AND SURE ESTATE, WRITTEN TO JOHN POINS

  OF THE COURTIER’S LIFE, WRITTEN TO JOHN POINS

  HOW TO USE THE COURT AND HIMSELF THEREIN, WRITTEN TO SIR FRANCIS BRIAN

  Penitential Psalms

  THE PROLOGUE OF THE AUTHOR

  PENITENTIAL PSALMS

  An Epitaph of Sir Thomas Gravener, Knight

  SIR ANTONIE SENTLEGER OF SIR T. WYATT

  Songs and Sonnets

  THE LOVER FOR SHAMEFASTNESS HIDETH HIS DESIRE WITHIN HIS FAITHFUL HEART

  THE LONG love that in my thought I harbour,

  And in my heart doth keep his residence,

  Into my face presseth with bold pretence,

  And there campeth displaying his banner.

  She that me learns to love and to suffer, 5

  And wills that my trust, and lust’s negligence

  Be reined by reason, shame, and reverence,

  With his hardiness takes displeasure.

  Wherewith love to the heart’s forest he fleeth,

  Leaving his enterprise with pain and cry, 10

  And there him hideth, and not appeareth.

  What may I do, when my master feareth,

  But in the field with him to live and die?

  For good is the life, ending faithfully.

  THE LOVER WAXETH WISER, AND WILL NOT DIE FOR AFFECTION

  YET was I never of your love aggrieved,

  Nor never shall while that my life doth last:

  But of hating myself, that date is past;

  And tears continual sore have me wearied:

  I will not yet in my grave be buried; 5

  Nor on my tomb your name have fixed fast,

  As cruel cause, that did the spirit soon haste

  From th’ unhappy bones, by great sighs stirred.

  Then if a heart of amorous faith and will

  Content your mind withouten doing grief; 10

  Please it you so to this to do relief:

  If otherwise you seek for to fulfil

  Your wrath, you err, and shall not as you ween;

  And you yourself the cause thereof have been.

  THE ABUSED LOVER SEETH HIS FOLLY AND INTENDETH TO TRUST NO MORE

  WAS never file yet half so well yfiled,

  To file a file for any smith’s intent,

  As I was made a filing instrument,

  To frame other, while that I was beguiled:

  But reason, lo, hath at my folly smiled, 5

  And pardoned me, since that I me repent

  Of my last years, and of my time mispent.

  For youth led me, and falsehood me misguided.

  Yet this trust I have of great apparence,

  Since that deceit is aye returnable, 10

  Of very force it is agreeable,

  That therewithal be done the recompense:

  Then guile beguiled plained should be never;

  And the reward is little trust for ever.

  THE LOVER DESCRIBETH HIS BEING STRICKEN WITH SIGHT OF HIS LOVE

  THE LIVELY sparks that issue from those eyes,

  Against the which there vaileth no defence,

  Have pierc’d my heart, and done it none offence,

  With quaking pleasure more than once or twice.

  Was never man could any thing devise, 5

  Sunbeams to turn with so great vehemence

  To daze man’s sight, as by their bright presence

  Dazed am I; much like unto the guise

  Of one stricken with dint of lightning,

  Blind with the stroke, and crying here and there; 10

  So call I for help, I not when nor where,

  The pain of my fall patiently bearing:

  For straight after the blaze, as is no wonder,

  Of deadly noise hear I the fearful thunder.

  THE WAVERING LOVER WILLETH, AND DREADETH, TO MOVE HIS DESIRE

  SUCH vain thought as wonted to mislead me

  In desert hope, by well assured moan,

  Makes me from company to live alone,

  In following her whom reason bids me flee.

  And after her my heart would fain be gone, 5

  But armed sighs my way do stop anon,

  ‘Twixt hope and dread locking my liberty;

  So fleeth she by gentle cruelty.

  Yet as I guess, under disdainful brow

  One beam of ruth is in her cloudy look: 10

  Which comforts the mind, that erst for fear shook;

  That bolded the way straight; then seek I how

  To utter forth the smart I bide within;

  But such it is, I not how to begin.

  THE LOVER HAVING DREAMED ENJOYING OF HIS LOVE, COMPLAINETH THAT THE DREAM IS NOT EITHER LONGER OR TRUER

  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, 5

  Thou broughtest not her into these tossing seas;

  But madest my sprite to live, my care t’ encrease,

  My body in tempest her delight t’embrace.

  The body dead, the spirit had his desire;

  Painless was th’ one, th’ other in delight. 10

  Why then, alas, did it not keep it right,

  But thus return to leap into the fire;

  And where it was at wish, could not remain?

  Such mocks of dreams do turn to deadly pain.

  THE LOVER UNHAPPY BIDDETH HAPPY LOVERS REJOICE IN MAY, WHILE HE WAILETH THAT MONTH TO HIM MOST UNLUCKY

  YE that in love find luck and sweet abundance,

  And live in lust of joyful jollity,

  Arise for shame, do way our sluggardy:

  Arise, I say, do May some observance.

  Let me in bed lie dreaming in mischance; 5

  Let me remember my mishaps unhappy,

  That me betide in May most commonly;

  As one whom love list little to advance.

  Stephan said true, that my nativity

  Mischanced was with the ruler of May. 10

  He guessed (I prove) of that the verity.

  In May my wealth, and eke my wits, I say,

  Have stond so oft in such perplexity:

  Joy; let me dream of your felicity.

  THE LOVER CONFESSETH HIM IN LOVE WITH PHYLLIS

  IF waker care; if sudden pale colour;

  If many sighs with little speech to plain:

  Now joy, now woe, if they my chere distain;

  For hope of small, if much to fear therefore;

  To haste or slack, my pace to less, or more; 5

  Be sign of love, then do I love again.

  If thou ask whom; sure, since I did refrain

  Brunet, that set my wealth in such a roar,

  The unfeigned cheer of Phyllis hath the place

  That Brunet had; she hath, and ever shall. 10

  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.

  OF OTHERS’ FEIGNED SORROW, AND THE LOVER’S FEIGNED MIRTH

  CÆSAR, when that the traitor of Egypt

  With the honourable head did him present,

  Covering his heart’s gladness, did represent

  Plaint with his tears outward, as it is writ.

  Eke Hannibal, when fortune him outshut 5

  Clean from his reign, and from all his intent,

  Laugh’d to his folk, whom sorrow did torment;

  His cruel despite for to disgorge and quit.

  So chanced me, that every passion

  The mind hideth by colour contrary, 10

  With feigned visage, now sad, now merry;

  Whereby if that I laugh at any season,

  It is because I have none other way

  To cloke my care, but under sport and play.

  OF CHANGE IN MIND

  EACH man me telleth I change most my devise;

  And on my faith, methink it good reason

  To change purpose, like after the season.

  For in each case to keep still one guise,

  Is meet for them that would be taken wise; 5

  And I am not of such manner condition;

  But treated after a diverse fashion;

  And thereupon my diverseness doth rise.

  But you, this diverseness that blamen most,

  Change you no more, but still after one rate 10

  Treat you me well, and keep you in that state;

  And while with me cloth dwell this wearied ghost,

  My word, nor I, shall not be variable,

  But always one; your own both firm and stable.

  HOW THE LOVER PERISHETH IN HIS DELIGHT AS THE FLY IN THE FIRE

  SOME fowls there be that have so perfect sight,

  Against the sun their eyes for to defend;

  And some, because the light doth them offend,

  Never appear but in the dark or night:

  Other rejoice to see the fire so bright, 5

  And ween to play in it, as they pretend,

  But find contrary of it, that they intend.

  Alas! of that sort may I be by right;

  For to withstand her look I am not able;

  Yet can I not hide me in no dark place; 10

  So followeth me remembrance of that face,

  That with my teary eyen, swoln, and unstable,

  My destiny to behold her doth me lead;

  And yet I know I run into the glead.

  AGAINST HIS TONGUE THAT FAILED TO UTTER HIS SUITS

  BECAUSE I still kept thee from lies and blame,

  And to my power always thee honoured,

  Unkind tongue! to ill hast thou me rend’red,

  For such desert to do me wreke and shame.

  In need of succour most when that I am, 5

  To ask reward, thou stand’st like one afraid:

  Alway most cold, and if one word be said,

  As in a dream, unperfect is the same.

  And ye salt tears, against my will each night

  That are with me, when I would be alone; 10

  Then are ye gone when I should make my moan:

  And ye so ready sighs to make me shright.

  Then are ye slack when that ye should outstart

  And only doth my look declare my heart.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTRARIOUS PASSIONS IN A LOVER

  I FIND no peace, and all my war is done;

  I fear and hope, I burn, and freeze like ice;

  I fly aloft, yet can I not arise;

  And nought I have, and all the world I seize on,

  That locks nor loseth, holdeth me in prison, 5

  And holds me not, yet can I scape no wise:

  Nor letteth me live, nor die, at my devise,

  And yet of death it giveth me occasion.

  Without eye I see; without tongue I plain:

  I wish to perish, yet I ask for health; 10

  I love another, and I hate myself;

  I feed me in sorrow, and laugh in all my pain.

  Lo, thus displeaseth me both death and life,

  And my delight is causer of this strife.

  THE LOVER COMPARETH HIS STATE TO A SHIP IN PERILOUS STORM TOSSED ON THE SEA

  MY galley charged with forgetfulness,

  Through sharp seas, in winter nights, doth pass

  ‘Tween rock and rock; and eke my foe, alas,

  That is my lord, steereth with cruelness:

  And every hour, a thought in readiness, 5

  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,

  Have done the wearied cords great hinderance: 10

  Wreathed with error, and with ignorance;

  The stars be hid that lead me to this pain;

  Drown’d is reason that should be my comfort,

  And I remain, despairing of the port.

  OF DOUBTFUL LOVE

  AVISING the bright beams of those fair eyes,

  Where he abides that mine oft moistens and washeth;

  The wearied mind straight from the heart departeth,

  To rest within his worldly paradise,

  And bitter finds the sweet, under his guise. 5

  What webs there he hath wrought, well he perceiveth:

  Whereby then with himself on love he plaineth,

  That spurs with fire, and bridleth eke with ice.

  In such extremity thus is he brought:

  Frozen now cold, and now he stands in flame: 10

  ‘Twixt woe and wealth, betwixt earnest and
game,

  With seldom glad, and many a diverse thought,

  In sore repentance of his hardiness,

  Of such a root, lo, cometh fruit fruitless.

  THE LOVER ABUSED RENOUNCETH LOVE

  MY love to scorn, my service to retain,

  Therein, methought, you used cruelty;

  Since with good will I lost my liberty,

  To follow her which causeth all my pain.

  Might never woe yet cause me to refrain; 5

  But only this, which is extremity,

  To give me nought, alas, nor to agree

  That, as I was, your man I might remain:

  But since that thus ye list to order me,

  That would have been your servant true and fast; 10

  Displease you not, my doting time is past;

  And with my loss to leave I must agree:

  For as there is a certain time to rage,

  So is there time such madness to assuage.

  TO HIS LADY, CRUEL OVER HER YIELDING LOVER

  SUCH is the course that nature’s kind hath wrought,

  That snakes have time to cast away their stings:

  Against chain’d prisoners what need defence be sought?

  The fierce lion will hurt no yielden things:

  Why should such spite be nursed then by thought? 5

  Sith all these powers are prest under thy wings;

  And eke thou seest, and reason thee hath taught,

  What mischief malice many ways it brings:

  Consider eke, that spite availeth nought.

  Therefore this song thy fault to thee it sings: 10

  Displease thee not, for saying thus my thought,

  Nor hate thou him from whom no hate forth springs:

  For furies that in hell be execrable,

  For that they hate, are made most miserable.

  HOW UNPOSSIBLE IT IS TO FIND QUIET IN LOVE

  EVER my hap is slack and slow in coming,

  Desire increasing, ay my hope uncertain

  With doubtful love, that but increaseth pain;