| Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503–42). The Poetical Works. 1880. | | | | Odes | | The deceived Lover sueth only for Liberty |
| | | IF chance assign’d, | |
| Were to my mind, | |
| By very kind | |
| Of destiny; | |
| Yet would I crave | 5 |
| Nought else to have, | |
| But life and liberty. | |
| Then were I sure, | |
| I might endure | |
| The displeasure | 10 |
| Of cruelty; | |
| Where now I plain, | |
| Alas! in vain, | |
| Lacking my life, for liberty. | |
| For without th’ one, | 15 |
| Th’ other is gone, | |
| And there can none | |
| It remedy; | |
| If th’ one be past, | |
| Th’ other doth waste, | 20 |
| And all for lack of liberty. | |
| And so I drive, | |
| As yet alive, | |
| Although I strive | |
| With misery; | 25 |
| Drawing my breath, | |
| Looking for death, | |
| And loss of life for liberty. | |
| But thou that still, | |
| Mayst at thy will, | 30 |
| Turn all this ill | |
| Adversity; | |
| For the repair, | |
| Of my welfare, | |
| Grant me but life and liberty. | 35 |
| And if not so, | |
| Then let all go | |
| To wretched woe, | |
| And let me die; | |
| For th’ one or th’ other, | 40 |
| There is none other; | |
| My death, or life with liberty. | | | | |
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