AGAINST HIS TONGUE THAT FAILED

TO UTTER HIS SUITS

B ECAUSE I still kept thee from lies and
        blame,
   And to my power always thee honoured,
Unkind tongue ! to ill hast thou me rend'red,
For such desert to do me wreke and shame.
In need of succour most when that I am,
To ask reward, thou stand'st like one afraid :
Alway most cold, and if one word be said,
As in a dream, unperfect is the same.
And ye salt tears, against my will each night
That are with me, when I would be alone ;
Then are ye gone when I should make my moan :
And ye so ready sighs to make me shright,1
    Then are ye slack, when that ye should outstart ;
    And only doth my look declare my heart.


1  Shriek.


Source:
Yeowell, James, Ed. The Poetical Works of Sir Thomas Wyatt.
London: George Bell and Sons, 1904. 8-9.



Backto the Works of Sir Thomas Wyatt


Site copyright ©1996-2007 Anniina Jokinen. All Rights Reserved.
Created by Anniina Jokinen on January 15, 2000. Last updated January 18, 2007.