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Home  »  The Poetical Works by Sir Thomas Wyatt  »  The Lover despairing to attain unto his Lady’s Grace relinquisheth the pursuit

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

Songs and Sonnets

The Lover despairing to attain unto his Lady’s Grace relinquisheth the pursuit

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 furthest come 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 Cæsar’s I am,

And wild for to hold, though I seem tame.’