He repenteth that he had ever loved. Odes. Sir Thomas Wyatt. 1880. The Poetical Works

Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503–42). The Poetical Works. 1880.

Odes

He repenteth that he had ever loved


NOW must I learn to live at rest,
And wean me of my will;
For I repent where I was prest
My fancy to fulfil.
I may no longer more endure	5
My wonted life to lead;
But I must learn to put in ure
The change of womanhed.
I may not see my service long
Rewarded in such wise;	10
Nor I may not sustain such wrong
That ye my love despise.
I may not sigh in sorrow deep,
Nor wail the want of love;
Nor I may neither crouch nor creep	15
Where it doth not behove.
But I of force must needs forsake
My faith so fondly set;
And from henceforth must undertake
Such folly to forget.	20
Now must I seek some other ways
Myself for to withsave;
And as I trust by mine essays
Some remedy to have.
I ask none other remedy	25
To recompense my wrong;
But once to have the liberty
That I have lack’d so long.