Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Sir Thomas Wyatt. 1503154237. Vixi Puellis Nuper Idoneus…
THEY flee from me that sometime did me seek, | |
With naked foot stalking within my chamber: | |
Once have I seen them gentle, tame, and meek, | |
That now are wild, and do not once remember | |
That sometime they have put themselves in danger | 5 |
To take bread at my hand; and now they range, | |
Busily seeking in continual change. | |
Thanked be fortune, it hath been otherwise | |
Twenty times better; but once especial— | |
In thin array: after a pleasant guise, | 10 |
When her loose gown did from her shoulders fall, | |
And she me caught in her arms long and small, | |
And therewithal so sweetly did me kiss, | |
And softly said, ‘Dear heart, how like you this?’ | |
It was no dream; for I lay broad awaking: | 15 |
But all is turn’d now, through my gentleness, | |
Into a bitter fashion of forsaking; | |
And I have leave to go of her goodness; | |
And she also to use new-fangleness. | |
But since that I unkindly so am servèd, | 20 |
‘How like you this?’—what hath she now deservèd? |