VOL. II.

It was no need, I wis,

To bid us other kiss;

There might no hearts mair joy receive,

1

Nor either could of other have.

Thus brought were we to bliss.

1 Than.

D

SPECIMENS,

&c.

Henry VIII. (1509 to 1547.)

SIR THOMAS WYATT,

OF Allington Castle, Kent, styled by Wood "the delight of the Muses, and of Mankind," was born in 1503; educated at both universities; a great traveller; possessed all the modern languages; and was often employed by Henry VIII. in foreign missions. Though generally, and justly, in the confidence of his master, he was imprisoned by him on suspicion of a connexion with Anne Boleyn, but justified himself, and was restored to favour. Being sent to conduct the ambassador of Charles V. from Falmouth, he caught a fever on the road by riding too hard in a hot day, and died at Sherborne, where he was buried in the conventual church, 1541.

Besides his minor poems, sonnets, and translations, which succeed Lord Surrey's in Tottel's Miscellany, he composed a poetical version of some of David's Psalms, printed in 1549. Lord Surrey's character of these and their author may be seen in three of the subsequent specimens given from that nobleman.

His genius was of the moral and didactic cast; and he may be considered (says Warton) as the first polished satirist but his imagination was inferior to that of his friend Surrey; and his love-verses are often filled with conceit and antithesis.

The Lady to answer directly with yea or no.

MADAM, withouten many words,

Once, I am sure, you will, or no :
And if you will, then leave your boords',
And use your wit, and shew it so.

For, with a beck you shall me call;
And if of one that burns alwày
Ye have pity or ruth at all,
Answer him fair, with yea or nay!

If it be yea, I shall be fain;

If it be nay-friends, as before: You shall another man obtain ;

And I, mine own; and yours no more.

The Lover's Case cannot be hidden, however he

dissemble.

Your looks so often cast,

Your eyes so friendly roll'd,

Your sight fixed so fast,

Always one to behold;

1 Jests, or tricks.

Tho' hide it fain ye would,

It plainly doth declare,
Who hath your heart in hold,
And where good-will ye bear.

The Lover determineth to serve faithfully. Since Love will needs that I shall love,

Of

very force I must agree:

And since no chance may it remove,

In wealth and in adversity,

I shall alway myself apply

To serve and suffer patiently.

Though for good-will I find but hate,

And cruelty1 my life to waste;

1 So ed. i.-ed. 1567, "cruelly."

And though that still a wretched state

Should pine my days unto the last, Yet I profess it willingly,

To serve and suffer patiently.

*

There is no grief, no smart, no wo,
That yet I feel, or after shall,
That from this mind may make me go;

And, whatsoever me befall,

I do profess it willingly,

To serve and suffer patiently.

The Lover prayeth not to be disdained, refused, mistrusted, nor forsaken.

Disdain me not without desert,
Nor leave me not so suddenly;
Since well ye wot that in my heart
I mean ye nought but honestly.

Refuse me not without cause why:
For think me not to be unjust,

Since that by lot of fantasy

This careful knot needs knit I must.

Mistrust me not, though some there be

That fain would spot my stedfastness;