Complete Works of Sir Thomas Wyatt

by Thomas Wyatt

  IN doubtful breast whilst motherly pity

  With furious famine standeth at debate;

  The mother saith, ‘O child unhappy,

  Return thy blood where thou hadst milk of late;

  Yield me those limbs that I made unto thee, 5

  And enter there where thou were generate;

  For of one body against all nature,

  To another must I make sepulture.’

  TO HIS LOVE WHOM HE HAD KISSED AGAINST HER WILL

  ALAS, Madam, for stealing of a kiss,

  Have I so much your mind therein offended?

  Or have I done so grievously amiss,

  That by no means it may not be amended?

  Revenge you then: the readiest way is this; 5

  Another kiss, my life it shall have ended;

  For to my mouth the first my heart did suck;

  The next shall clean out of my breast it pluck.

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

  THE WAND’RING gadling in the summer tide,

  That finds the adder with his rechless foot,

  Starts not dismay’d so suddenly aside,

  As jealous despite did, though there were no boot,

  When that he saw me sitting by her side, 5

  That of my health is very crop and root.

  It pleased me then to have so fair a grace,

  To sting the heart, that would have had my place.

  TO HIS LOVE FROM WHOM HE HAD HER GLOVES

  WHAT needs these threatening words and wasted wind?

  All this cannot make me restore my prey.

  To rob your goods, I wis is not my mind,

  Nor causeless your fair hand did I display.

  Let Love be judge, or else whom next we find, 5

  That may both hear what you and I can say.

  She reft my heart, and I a glove from her:

  Let us see then, if one be worth the other.

  THE LOVER COMPLAINETH THAT DEADLY SICKNESS CANNOT HELP HIS AFFECTION

  THE ENEMY of life, decayer of all kind,

  That with his cold withers away the green,

  This other night me in my bed did find,

  And offer’d me to rid my fever clean;

  And I did grant, so did despair me blind: 5

  He drew his bow with arrow sharp and keen.

  And strake the place where Love had hit before;

  And drave the first dart deeper more and more.

  OF THE FEIGNED FRIEND

  RIGHT true it is, and said full yore ago;

  ‘Take heed of him that by the back thee claweth:’

  For none is worse than is a friendly foe.

  Though thee seem good all thing that thee delighteth,

  Yet know it well, that in thy bosom creepeth: 5

  For many a man such fire ofttimes he kindleth,

  That with the blaze his beard himself he singeth.

  COMPARISON OF LOVE TO A STREAM FALLING FROM THE ALPS

  FROM these high hills as when a spring doth fall,

  It trilleth down with still and subtle course,

  Of this and that it gathers aye and shall,

  Till it have just down flowed to stream, and force,

  Then at the foot it rageth over all: 5

  So fareth love, when he hath ta’en a source,

  Rage is his reign, resistance ‘vaileth none,

  The first eschew is remedy alone.

  OF HIS LOVE THAT PRICKED HER FINGER WITH A NEEDLE

  SHE sat, and sewed, that hath done me the wrong;

  Whereof I plain, and have done many a day:

  And, whilst she heard my plaint, in piteous song

  She wish’d my heart the sampler, that it lay.

  The blind master, whom I have served so long, 5

  Grudging to hear that he did hear her say,

  Made her own weapon do her finger bleed,

  To feel if pricking were so good indeed.

  OF THE SAME

  WHAT man heard such cruelty before?

  That, when my plaint remember’d her my woe

  That caused it, she cruel more and more,

  Wished each stitch, as she did sit and sew,

  Had prick’d my heart, for to increase my sore: 5

  And, as I think, she thought it had been so:

  For as she thought, this is his heart indeed,

  She pricked hard, and made herself to bleed.

  THE LOVER THAT FLED LOVE NOW FOLLOWS IT WITH HIS HARM

  SOMETIME I fled the fire, that me so brent,

  By sea, by land, by water, and by wind;

  And now the coals I follow that be quent,

  From Dover to Calais, with willing mind.

  Lo, how desire is both forth sprung, and spent; 5

  And he may see, that whilom was so blind,

  And all his labour laughs he now to scorn,

  Meshed in the briers, that erst was only torn.

  THE LOVER COMPARETH HIS HEART TO THE OVERCHARGED GUN

  THE FURIOUS gun in his most raging ire,

  When that the bowl is rammed in too sore,

  And that the flame cannot part from the fire;

  Cracks in sunder, and in the air do roar

  The shivered pieces. So doth my desire; 5

  Whose flame increaseth aye from more to more;

  Which to let out, I dare not look, nor speak;

  So inward force my heart doth all to break.

  HOW BY A KISS HE FOUND BOTH HIS LIFE AND DEATH

  NATURE, that gave the bee so feat a grace

  To find honey of so wondrous fashion,

  Hath taught the spider out of the same place

  To fetch poison by strange alteration;

  Though this be strange, it is a stranger case 5

  With one kiss by secret operation

  Both these at once in those your lips to find;

  In change whereof I leave my heart behind.

  TO HIS LOVER TO LOOK UPON HIM

  ALL in thy look my life doth whole depend,

  Thou hidest thyself, and I must die therefore;

  But since thou mayst so easily help thy friend,

  Why dost thou stick to salve that thou madest sore?

  Why do I die since thou mayst me defend? 5

  And if I die, thy life may last no more;

  For each by other doth live and have relief,

  I in thy look, and thou most in my grief.

  OF DISAPPOINTED PURPOSE BY NEGLIGENCE

  OF Carthage he that worthy warrior

  Could overcome, but could not use his chance;

  And I likewise of all my long endeavour

  The sharp conquest though fortune did advance,

  Ne could I use. The hold that is given over 5

  I unpossess, so hangeth now in balance

  Of war my peace, reward of all my pain,

  At Mountzon thus I restless rest in Spain.

  OF HIS RETURN FROM SPAIN

  TAGUS, farewell, that westward with thy streams

  Turns up the grains of gold already tried;

  For I with spur and sail go seek the Thames,

  Gainward the sun that sheweth her wealthy pride;

  And to the town that Brutus sought by dreams, 5

  Like bended moon, that leans her lusty side;

  My King, my Country I seek, for whom I live:

  Of mighty Jove, the winds for this me give.

  WYATT BEING IN PRISON, TO BRYAN

  SIGHS are my food, my drink are my tears;

  Clinking of fetters would such music crave;

  Stink, and close air away my life it wears;

  Poor innocence is all the hope I have:

  Rain, wind, or weather judge I by my ears: 5

  Malice assaults, that righteousness should have.

  Sure am I, Bryan, this wound shall heal again,

  But yet, alas, the scar shall still remain.

  OF SUCH AS HAD FORSAKEN HIM

>   LOOK, my fair falcon, and thy fellows all;

  How well pleasant it were your liberty!

  Ye not forsake me, that fair might you fall.

  But they that sometime liked my company,

  Like lice away from dead bodies they crawl: 5

  Lo, what a proof in light adversity!

  But ye, my birds, I swear by all your bells,

  Ye be my friends, and very few else.

  THE LOVER HOPETH OF BETTER CHANCE

  HE is not dead, that sometime had a fall,

  The sun returns, that hid was under cloud,

  And when fortune hath spit out all her gall,

  I trust, good luck to me shall be allowed:

  For I have seen a ship in haven fall, 5

  After that storm hath broke both mast and shroud:

  The willow eke, that stoopeth with the wind,

  Doth rise again, and greater wood doth bind.

  THAT PLEASURE IS MIXED WITH EVERY PAIN

  VENEMOUS thorns that are so sharp and keen,

  Bear flowers, we see, full fresh and fair of hue:

  Poison is also put in medicine,

  And unto man his health doth oft renew:

  The fire that all things eke consumeth clean 5

  May hurt and heal: then if that this be true,

  I trust sometime my harm may be my health,

  Since every woe is joined with some wealth.

  THE COURTIER’S LIFE

  IN Court to serve decked with fresh array,

  Of sugar’d meats feeling the sweet repast,

  The life in banquets and sundry kinds of play

  Amid the press of worldly looks to waste,

  Hath with it join’d ofttimes such bitter taste, 5

  That whoso joys such kind of life to hold,

  In prison joys fetter’d with chains of gold.

  OF THE MEAN AND SURE ESTATE

  STAND, whoso list, upon the slipper wheel

  Of high estate; and let me here rejoice,

  And use my life in quietness each dele,

  Unknown in court that hath the wanton toys:

  In hidden place my time shall slowly pass, 5

  And when my years be past withouten noise,

  Let me die old after the common trace;

  For gripes of death doth he too hardly pass,

  That knowen is to all, but to himself, alas,

  He dieth unknown, dased with dreadful face. 10

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

  ACCUSED though I be without desert;

  Sith none can prove, believe it not for true:

  For never yet, since that you had my heart,

  Intended I to false, or be untrue.

  Sooner I would of death sustain the smart, 5

  Than break one word of that I promised you;

  Accept therefore my service in good part:

  None is alive, that can ill tongues eschew,

  Hold them as false; and let us not depart

  Our friendship old in hope of any new: 10

  Put not thy trust in such as use to feign,

  Except thou mind to put thy friend to pain.

  OF DISSEMBLING WORDS

  THROUGHOUT the world if it were sought,

  Fair words enough a man shall find;

  They be good cheap, they cost right nought,

  Their substance is but only wind;

  But well to say and so to mean, 5

  That sweet accord is seldom seen.

  OF SUDDEN TRUSTING

  DRIVEN by desire I did this deed,

  To danger myself without cause why,

  To trust the untrue not like to speed,

  To speak and promise faithfully:

  But now the proof doth verify, 5

  That whoso trusteth ere he know,

  Doth hurt himself and please his foe.

  THE LADY TO ANSWER DIRECTLY WITH YEA OR NAY

  MADAM, withouten many words,

  Once I am sure you will, or no:

  And if you will, then leave your bourds,

  And use your wit, and shew it so:

  For with a beck you shall me call; 5

  And if of one, that burns alway,

  Ye have pity or ruth at all,

  Answer him fair with yea or nay.

  If it be yea, I shall be fain;

  If it be nay, friends as before; 10

  You shall another man obtain,

  And I mine own, and yours no more.

  ANSWER

  OF few words, Sir, you seem to be,

  And where I doubted what I would do

  Your quick request hath caused me

  Quickly to tell you what you shall trust to.

  For he that will be called with a beck, 5

  Makes hasty suit on light desire:

  Is ever ready to the check,

  And burneth in no wasting fire.

  Therefore whether you be lief or loth,

  And whether it grieve you light or sore, 10

  I am at a point: I have made an oath,

  Content you with ‘Nay;’ for you get no more.

  THE LOVER PROFESSETH HIMSELF CONSTANT

  WITHIN my breast I never thought it gain

  Of gentle minds the freedom for to lose;

  Nor in my heart sank never such disdain,

  To be a forger, faults for to disclose:

  Nor I cannot endure the truth to glose, 5

  To set a gloss upon an earnest pain:

  Nor I am not in number one of those

  That list to blow retreat to every train.

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

  SUFFICED not, Madam, that you did tear

  My woful 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 5

  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, 10

  And I no more such torments of the heart

  Feel as I do: This shall you gain thereby.

  THE LOVER COMPLAINETH AND HIS LADY COMFORTETH

  LOVER. It burneth yet, alas, my heart’s desire.

  LADY. What is the thing that hath inflamed thy heart?

  LOVER. A certain point as fervent as the fire.

  LADY. The heat shall cease, if that thou wilt convert.

  LOVER. I cannot stop the fervent raging ire. 5

  LADY. What may I do, if thyself cause thy smart?

  LOVER. Hear my request, and rue my weeping chere.

  LADY. With right good will, say on: lo, I thee hear.

  LOVER. That thing would I, that maketh two content,

  LADY. Thou seekest, perchance, of me, that I may not. 10

  LOVER. Would God, thou wouldst, as thou mayst, well assent.

  LADY. That I may not the grief is mine, God wot.

  LOVER. But I it feel, whatso thy words have meant.

  LADY. Suspect me not: my words be not forgot.

  LOVER. Then, say, alas, shall I have help or no? 15

  LADY. I see no time to answer yea, but no.

  LOVER. Say yea, dear heart, and stand no more in doubt.

  LADY. I may not grant a thing that is so dear.

  LOVER. Lo, with delays thou drivest me still about.

  LADY. Thou wouldst my death, it plainly doth appear. 20

  LOVER. First, may my heart his blood, and life bleed out.

  LADY. Then for my sake, alas, thy will forbear.

  LOVER. From day to day thus wastes my life away.

  LADY. Yet for the best, suffer some small delay.

  LOVER. Now good, say yea: do once so good a deed. 25

  LADY. If I said yea, what shou
ld thereof ensue?

  LOVER. A heart in pain of succour so should speed:

  ‘Twixt yea and nay, my doubt shall still renew.

  My sweet, say yea; and do away this dread.

  LADY. Thou wilt needs so: be it so; but then be true. 30

  LOVER. Nought would I else, nor other treasure none.

  Thus hearts be won by love, request, and moan.

  THE LOVER SUSPECTED BLAMETH ILL TONGUES

  MISTRUSTFUL minds be moved

  To have me in suspect,

  The truth it shall be proved,

  Which time shall once detect.

  Though falsehood go about 5

  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 desart, 10

  Even as they have deserved,

  Thereof God send them part.

  OF HIS LOVE CALLED ANNA

  WHAT word is that, that changeth not,

  Though it be turn’d and made in twain?

  It is mine Anna, God it wot,

  The only causer of my pain;

  My love that meedeth with disdain. 5

  Yet is it loved, what will you more?

  It is my salve, and eke my sore.

  A RIDDLE OF A GIFT GIVEN BY A LADY

  A LADY gave me a gift she had not;

  And I received her gift which I took not;

  She gave it me willingly, and yet she would not;

  And I received it, albeit, I could not:

  If she give it me, I force not; 5