The Devonshire Manuscript, Absens absenting causithe me to complaine

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The Devonshire Manuscript facsimile 81v (Image: DMSEG, CC BY-SA 3.0) |
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The Devonshire Manuscript facsimile 82r (Image: DMSEG, CC BY-SA 3.0) |
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f. [81v]

1    Absens absenting causithe me to com{_o}plaine
2    {es}{_o} my sorofull complayntes abiding in distresse
3    and depar{p+}ting most pryvie increasithe my paine
4    thus lyve I vncomfortid wrappid all in hevines

f. [82r]

5    In hevenes I am wrapid devoyde of all solace
6    nother pastyme nor pleasure can{_a} revyve my dull wytt
7    my sprites{es} be all taken . and dethe dothe me manace
8    withe his fatall knif the thrid for to kitt

9    ffor to kit the thrid of this wretchid lif
10    and shortelye bring me owt of this cace
11    I se yt avaylith not yet must I be pensif
12    sins fortune from{_o} me hathe turnid her face

13    {_o}{w+t+} her face she hathe turnid with cowntenance contrarious
14    and clene from{_o} her presens she hathe exilid me
15    yn sorrowe remayning as aman a man  most dolorous
16    exempte from{_o} all pleasure and worldelye felicitie

17    all wordelie felicitye nowe am I pryvate
18    and left in deserte moste solitarilye
19    wandring all about as on with{w+t+}owt mate
20    my dethe aprochithe what remedye

21    what remedye alas to reioise my wofull herte
22    withe sighis suspiring most rufullie
23    nowe wellcome I am redye to deperte
24    fare well all plesure welcome paine / and smar{m'}te /

fs

Commentary

Attributed to Sir Thomas Wyatt,1] this poem was entered by [H8. Fortune has turned her face away from the speaker and leaves him in misery. The speaker seems cut off from human contact in a private world. Similar to many courtly love lyrics, this poem can be interpreted as commenting on both love and politics.

Works Cited

• ↑ R.A. Rebholz, ed. Sir Thomas Wyatt: The Complete Poems. London: Penguin, 1978. 277.

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