| Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503–42). The Poetical Works. 1880. | | | | Odes | | The Lover, hopeless of greater Happiness, contenteth himself with only Pity |
| | | THO’ I cannot your cruelty constrain, | |
| For my good will to favour me again; | |
| Though my true and faithful love | |
| Have no power your heart to move, | |
| Yet rue upon my pain! | 5 |
| Tho’ I your thrall must evermore remain, | |
| And for your sake my liberty restrain; | |
| The greatest grace that I do crave | |
| Is that ye would vouchsave | |
| To rue upon my pain! | 10 |
| Though I have not deserved to obtain | |
| So high reward, but thus to serve in vain, | |
| Though I shall have no redress, | |
| Yet of right ye can no less, | |
| But rue upon my pain! | 15 |
| But I see well, that your high disdain | |
| Will no wise grant that I shall more attain; | |
| Yet ye must grant at the last | |
| This my poor, and small request; | |
| Rejoice not at my pain! | 20 | | | |
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