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Works of Sir Thomas Wyatt


Manuscript image of Wyatt's 'Unstable dream' from the Egerton MS

THE LOVER HAVING DREAMED ENJOYING

OF HIS LOVE, COMPLAINETH THAT THE DREAM

IS NOT EITHER LONGER OR TRUER.


U NSTABLE dream, according to the place,          
   Be steadfast once, or else at least be true :
   By tasted sweetness make me not to rue
The sudden loss of thy false fained grace.
By good respect, in such a dangerous case,
Thou broughtest not her into these tossing seas ;
But madest my sprite to live my care t' encrease,
My body in tempest her delight t'embrace.
The body dead, the spirit had his desire ;
Painless was th' one, the other in delight.
Why then, alas, did it not keep it right,
But thus return to leap in to the fire ;
    And where it was at wish, could not remain?
    Such mocks of dreams do turn to deadly pain.


[AJ Notes:

according, befitting.
dead, i.e., asleep.]




Audio reading ©2012 Anniina Jokinen:

For the direct .MP3 file, click here.


Text source:
Yeowell, Jams, Ed. The Poetical Works of Sir Thomas Wyatt.
London: George Bell and Sons, 1904. 4-5.




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Created by Anniina Jokinen on January 15, 2000. Last updated December 21, 2018.

 



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