Sir Thomas Wyatt. "My lute awake, perform the last".

THE LOVER COMPLAINETH THE UNKIND-

NESS OF HIS LOVE.¹

Y lute awake, perform the last
Labour, that thou and I shall waste,
And end that I have now begun :
And when this song is sung and past,
My lute ! be still, for I have done.
As to be heard where ear is none ;
As lead to grave in marble stone ;
My song may pierce her heart as soon.
Should we then sigh, or sing, or moan ?
No, no, my lute ! for I have done.
The rocks do not so cruelly
Repulse the waves continually,
As she my suit and affection :
So that I am past remedy ;
Whereby² my lute and I have done.
Proud of the spoil that thou hast got
Of simple hearts through Love's shot,
By whom, unkind, thou hast them won :
Think not he hath his bow forgot,
Although my lute and I have done.
Vengeance shall fall on thy disdain,
That makest but game on earnest pain ;
Think not alone under the sun
Unquit³ to cause thy lovers plain ;
Although my lute and I have done.
May chance thee⁴ lie withered and old
The winter nights, that are so cold,
Plaining in vain unto the moon ;
Thy wishes then dare not be told :
Care then who list, for I have done.
And then may chance thee to repent
The time that thou hast lost and spent,
To cause thy lovers sigh and swoon :
Then shalt thou know beauty but lent,
And wish and want as I have done.
Now cease, my lute ! this is the last
Labour, that thou and I shall waste ;
And ended is that we begun :
Now is this song both sung and past ;
My lute ! be still, for I have done.

¹ This charming Ode is ascribed to Lord Rochford in
Nugæ Antiquæ, ii.400, edit. Park ; but it is contained in
Sir Thomas Wyatt's own MS, and is signed with his name
in his own handwriting.—Nott's Wyatt, p.20.
² Wherefore.
³ Unacquitted, free.
⁴ It may chance you may, &c.

Source:
Yeowell, James, Ed. The Poetical Works of Sir Thomas Wyatt.
London: George Bell and Sons, 1904. 29-30.

to the Works of Sir Thomas Wyatt