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THE LOVER COMPLAINETH THE UNKIND-
NESS OF HIS LOVE.1
Y lute awake, perform the last
Labour, that thou and I shall waste,
And end that I have now begun :
And 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 2 my lute and I have done.
Proud of the spoil that thou hast got
Of simple hearts through Love's shot,
By whom, unkind, thou hast them won :
Think not he hath his bow forgot,
Although my lute and I have done.
Vengeance shall fall on thy disdain,
That makest but game on earnest pain ;
Think not alone under the sun
Unquit 3 to cause thy lovers plain ;
Although my lute and I have done.
May chance thee 4 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 lute ! be still, for I have done.
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1 This charming Ode is ascribed to Lord Rochford in
Nugæ Antiquæ, ii.400, edit. Park ; but it is contained in
Sir Thomas Wyatt's own MS, and is signed with his name
in his own handwriting.—Nott's Wyatt, p.20.
2 Wherefore.
3 Unacquitted, free.
4 It may chance you may, &c.
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Manuscript images of
BL Egerton MS 2711, ff. 43v-44r.
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Manuscript images of
BL Add MS 17492, ff. 14v-15r.
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Source:
Yeowell, James, Ed. The Poetical Works of Sir Thomas Wyatt.
London: George Bell and Sons, 1904. 29-30.
 | to Sir Thomas Wyatt |
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Sir Thomas Wyatt, the Elder
