The Devonshire Manuscript/Absens absenting causithe me to complaine
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The Devonshire Manuscript facsimile 81v
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The Devonshire Manuscript facsimile 82r
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f. [81v]
1 Absens absenting causithe me to com{_o}plaine
2 {es}{_o} my sorofull complayntes abiding in distresse
3 and depar{p+}ting most pryvie increasithe my paine
4 thus lyve I vncomfortid wrappid all in hevines
f. [82r]
5 In hevenes I am wrapid devoyde of all solace
6 nother pastyme nor pleasure can{_a} revyve my dull wytt
7 my sprites{es} be all taken . and dethe dothe me manace
8 withe his fatall knif the thrid for to kitt
9 ffor to kit the thrid of this wretchid lif
10 and shortelye bring me owt of this cace
11 I se yt avaylith not yet must I be pensif
12 sins fortune from{_o} me hathe turnid her face
13 {_o}{w+t+} her face she hathe turnid with cowntenance contrarious
14 and clene from{_o} her presens she hathe exilid me
15 yn sorrowe remayning as aman a man most dolorous
16 exempte from{_o} all pleasure and worldelye felicitie
17 all wordelie felicitye nowe am I pryvate
18 and left in deserte moste solitarilye
19 wandring all about as on with{w+t+}owt mate
20 my dethe aprochithe what remedye
21 what remedye alas to reioise my wofull herte
22 withe sighis suspiring most rufullie
23 nowe wellcome I am redye to deperte
24 fare well all plesure welcome paine / and smar{m'}te /
fs
Commentary
Attributed to Sir Thomas Wyatt,[1] this poem was entered by H8. Fortune has turned her face away from the speaker and leaves him in misery. The speaker seems cut off from human contact in a private world. Similar to many courtly love lyrics, this poem can be interpreted as commenting on both love and politics.