Sir Thomas Wyatt. "Though I myself be bridled of my mind."

HE PRAYETH HIS LADY TO BE TRUE ;

FOR NO ONE CAN RESTRAIN A WILLING MIND.

HOUGH I myself be bridled of my mind,
Returning me backward by force express ;
If thou seek honour, to keep thy promess
Who may thee hold, but thou thyself unbind ?
Sigh then no more, since no way man may find
Thy virtue to let, though that forwardness
Of Fortune me holdeth ; and yet as I may guess,
Though other be present thou art not all behind.
Suffice it then that thou be ready there
At all hours ; still under the defence
Of Time, Truth, and Love to save thee from offence.
Crying I burn in a lovely desire,
With my dear Mistress that may not follow ;
Whereby mine absence turneth me to sorrow.

Source:
Yeowell, James, Ed. The Poetical Works of Sir Thomas Wyatt.
London: George Bell and Sons, 1904. 21.

to the Works of Sir Thomas Wyatt