The Devonshire Manuscript, whan that I call vnto my mynde

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The Devonshire Manuscript facsimile 82v (Image: DMSEG, CC BY-SA 3.0) |
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The Devonshire Manuscript facsimile 83r (Image: DMSEG, CC BY-SA 3.0) |
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f. [82v]

1    whan that I call vnto my mynde
2    the tyme of hope that ons I hade
3    the grete abuse that ded me blinde
4    dothe force me allwaies to be sad
5    yet of my greef I fayne me glad
6    but on assurid I was to bolde
7    to truste to such a slippre{p'} holde /

8    I thought yt well that I had wrought
9    willing forthewith{w+t+} so to ensue
10    but he that sekis as I have sought
11    shall finde most trust oft tymes vntrue
12    for lest I reckte that most I rue
13    of that I thought my silf most sure
14    ys nowe the wante of all my cure /

f. [83r]

15    Amiddes{es} my welthe I dede not reke
16    but sone alas or that I wiste
17     to weake the tyme was come that{{th}+t+} all toweake
18    I had no powre to to resiste
19    nowe am I prof . to . them that liste
20    to flee suche woo . and wrongfull paine
21    as in my herte I doo sustayne /

22    for faynid faithe is alwaies free
23    and dothe inclyne to bee vniuste
24    that sure I thinck there can{_a}n none bee
25    to miche assurid with{w+t+}out mistruste
26    but hap what maye. to theim that muste
27    Sustaine suche cruell destenye
28    wythe patiens for remedye /

29    As I am on biche bye restrainte
30    abides the tyme of my retorne
31    yn hope that fortune bye my playnte
32     burn wyll slake the fire wherewith{w+t+} I borurne
33    sins no waies els maye ser{{s}8}ue my torne
34    yet for the dowt of this distresse
35    I aske but right for my redresse /

fs

Commentary

Attributed to Sir Thomas Wyatt,1] this poem was entered by [H8. In this poem, the speaker feels disappointed by someone who appeared faithful but is really untrue. Similar to many courtly love lyrics, this poem can be interpreted as commenting on both love and politics. This poem is one of a several entries in the manuscript that speaks of counterfeiting feelings in public (for instance, see: “Sum summ say I love sum say I moke” (58v), “In places Wher that I company” (62r), "I ame not she be prowess off syt" (65r), “Myght I as well within my song be lay” (65v), “To cowntarffete a mery mode” (65v), and “Ceaser whan the traytor of egipte” (70r)).

Works Cited

• ↑ R.A. Rebholz, ed. Sir Thomas Wyatt: The Complete Poems. London: Penguin, 1978. 245-46.

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