| Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503–42). The Poetical Works. 1880. | | | | Odes | | The careful Lover complaineth, and the happy Lover counselleth |
| | | AH! Robin! | |
| Joly Robin! | |
| Tell me how thy Leman doth? | |
| And thou shalt know of mine. | |
| ‘My Lady is unkind, perdie!’ | 5 |
| Alack, why is she so! | |
| ‘She loveth an other better than me, | |
| And yet she will say, no.’ | |
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RESPONSE. I find no such doubleness; | |
| I find women true. | 10 |
| My lady loveth me doubtless, | |
| And will change for no new. | |
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LE PLAINTIF. Thou art happy while that doth last, | |
| But I say as I find; | |
| That woman’s love is but a blast, | 15 |
| And turneth like the wind. | |
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RESPONSE. But if thou wilt avoid thy harm, | |
| Learn this lesson of me; | |
| At others fires thyself to warm, | |
| And let them warm with thee. | 20 |
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LE PLAINTIF. Such folks shall take no harm by love, | |
| That can abide their turn; | |
| But I, alas, can no way prove | |
| In love, but lack, and mourn. | | | | |
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