Sir Thomas Wyatt (
1503-
1542)
They
flee from me that sometime did me
seek
With
naked foot,
stalking in my
chamber.
I have seen them
gentle,
tame, and
meek,
That now are
wild and do not
remember
That sometime they put themself in
danger
To take
bread at my hand; and now they
range,
Busily seeking with a continual
change.
Thanked be
fortune it hath been otherwise
Twenty times better; but once in special,
In thin array after a pleasant guise,
When her loose
gown from her
shoulders did fall,
And she me caught in her arms long and small;
Therewithall sweetly did me
kiss
And softly said, "dear
heart, how like you this?"
It was no
dream: I lay broad
waking.
But all is turned thorough my
gentleness
Into a
strange fashion of
forsaking;
And I have leave to go of her
goodness,
And she also, to use
newfangleness.
But since that I so kindly am served
I would fain know what she hath
deserved.