Sir Thomas Wyatt. "Though I cannot your cruelty constrain."

THE LOVER,

HOPELESS OF GREATER HAPPINESS, CONTENTETH

HIMSELF WITH ONLY PITY.

HO' I cannot your cruelty constrain,
For my good will to favour me again ;
Though my true and faithful love
Have no power your heart to move,
Yet rue upon my pain !
Tho' I your thrall muse evermore remain,
And for your sake my liberty restrain ;
The greatest grace that I do crave
Is that ye would vouchsave
To rue upon my pain !
Thought I have note deserved to obtain
So high reward, but thus to serve in vain,
Though I shall have no redress,
Yet of right ye can no less,
But rue upon my pain !
But I see well, that your high disdain
Will no wise grant that I shall more attain ;
Yet ye must grant at the last
This my poor, and small request ;
Rejoice not at my pain !

Source:
Yeowell, James, Ed. The Poetical Works of Sir Thomas Wyatt.
London: George Bell and Sons, 1904. 85.

to the Works of Sir Thomas Wyatt