The Devonshire Manuscript/Absens absenting causithe me to complaine

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The Devonshire Manuscript facsimile 81v

The Devonshire Manuscript facsimile 82r

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 cownten^ance 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 wo^rldelye 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, 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.