| Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503–42). The Poetical Works. 1880. | | | | Odes | | He ruleth not though he reign over Realms, that is subject to his own Lusts |
| | | IF thou wilt mighty be, flee from the rage | |
| Of cruel will; and see thou keep thee free | |
| From the foul yoke of sensual bondage: | |
| For though thine empire stretch to Indian sea, | |
| And for thy fear trembleth the farthest Thulè, | 5 |
| If thy desire have over thee the power, | |
| Subject then art thou and no governor. | |
| If to be noble and high thy mind be moved, | |
| Consider well thy ground and thy beginning; | |
| For he that hath each star in heaven fixed, | 10 |
| And gives the moon her horns, and her eclipsing, | |
| Alike hath made the noble in his working; | |
| So that wretched no way may thou be, | |
| Except foul lust and vice do conquer thee. | |
| All were it so thou had a flood of gold | 15 |
| Unto thy thirst, yet should it not suffice; | |
| And though with Indian stones a thousand fold, | |
| More precious than can thyself devise, | |
| Ycharged were thy back; thy covetise, | |
| And busy biting yet should never let | 20 |
| Thy wretched life, ne do thy death profet. | | | | |
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