| Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503–42). The Poetical Works. 1880. | | | | Odes | | The Lover sendeth his Complaints and Tears to sue for Grace |
| | | PASS forth, my wonted cries, | |
| Those cruel ears to pierce, | |
| Which in most hateful wise | |
| Do still my plaints reverse. | |
| Do you, my tears, also | 5 |
| So wet her barren heart, | |
| That pity there may grow, | |
| And cruelty depart. | |
| For though hard rocks among | |
| She seems to have been bred, | 10 |
| And of the tiger long | |
| Been nourished and fed; | |
| Yet shall not nature change, | |
| If pity once win place; | |
| Whom as unknown and strange | 15 |
| She now away doth chase. | |
| And as the water soft, | |
| Without forcing or strength, | |
| Where that it falleth oft | |
| Hard stones doth pierce at length: | 20 |
| So in her stony heart | |
| My plaints at last shall grave, | |
| And, rigour set apart, | |
| Win grant of that I crave. | |
| Wherefore, my plaints, present | 25 |
| Still so to her my suit, | |
| As ye, through her assent, | |
| May bring to me some fruit. | |
| And as she shall me prove, | |
| So bid her me regard; | 30 |
| And render love for love; | |
| Which is a just reward. | | | | |
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