| Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503–42). The Poetical Works. 1880. | | | | Odes | | The faithful Lover giveth to his Mistress his Heart as his best and only Treasure |
| | | TO seek each where where man doth live, | |
| The sea, the land, the rock, the clive, | |
| France, Spain, and Inde, and every where; | |
| Is none a greater gift to give, | |
| Less set by oft, and is so lief and dear, | 5 |
| Dare I well say, than that I give to year. | |
| I cannot give broaches nor rings, | |
| These goldsmith work, and goodly things, | |
| Pierrie, nor pearl, orient and clear; | |
| But for all that can no man bring | 10 |
| Lieffer jewel unto his lady dear, | |
| Dare I well say, than that I give to year. | |
| Nor I seek not to fetch it far; | |
| Worse is it not tho’ it be narr, | |
| And as it is, it doth appear | 15 |
| Uncounterfeit mistrust to bar. | |
| It is both whole, and pure, withouten peer, | |
| Dare I will say, the gift I give to year. | |
| To thee therefore the same retain; | |
| The like of thee to have again | 20 |
| France would I give, if mine it were. | |
| Is none alive in whom doth reign | |
| Lesser disdain; freely therefore lo! here | |
| Dare I well give, I say, my heart to year. | | | | |
|
|
