 |
THE LOVER COMPARETH HIS STATE TO A
SHIP IN PERILOUS STORM TOSSED
ON THE SEA.1
Y galley chargèd with forgetfulness
Thorough2 sharp seas, in winter nights doth pass
'Tween rock and rock; and eke3 mine enemy, alas,
That is my lord, steereth with cruelness,
And every oar a thought in readiness,
As though that death were light in such a case.4
An endless wind doth tear the sail apace
Of forcèd sighs and trusty fearfulness.5
A rain of tears, a cloud of dark disdain,
Hath done the wearied cords great hinderance;
Wreathèd with error and eke with ignorance.
The stars be hid that led me to this pain.
Drownèd is reason that should me consort,6
And I remain despairing of the port.
1 Translated from Petrarch's Rime 189.
2 Through.
3 Also.
4 As though my destruction would not matter much.
5 Fear to trust.
6 Accompany.
Audio reading ©2012 Anniina Jokinen:
To get the free Quicktime plugin, click here.
For the direct .MP3 file, click here.
Text source:
The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 6th ed. Vol I.
M. H. Abrams, Gen. Ed. New York, W. W. Norton & Co. 1993. 440-1.
|
 | to the Works of Sir Thomas Wyatt |
Site copyright ©1996-2012 Anniina Jokinen. All Rights Reserved.
Created by Anniina Jokinen on September 26, 1996. Last updated January 16, 2012.
|
|
|