The Devonshire Manuscript/This rotyd greff will not but growe

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Hartte aprest with dessperott thoughtes→

The Devonshire Manuscript facsimile 47v

 f. [47v] 

u

1    This rotyd greff will not but growe
2    to wether away ys not ys kynde{d,}
3    my teris of sorowe fulwell I know
4    which will I leve will not from mynde{d,}

T. H.¹

Notes & Glosses

     1. Presumably, these initials refer to Lord Thomas Howard.

Commentary

Written in TH1's hand, this poem is attributed in the text to Thomas Howard, indicated by the initials “T.H.” The speaker describes his continual sorrow that will not leave the mind. This short poem might be a comment on the preceding poem “What helpythe hope of happy hape” (46v-47r). The grafted and rotten bough is a common image in courtly love poetry. For other examples of this image in the manuscript, see “Yff reason govern fantasye” "Yff reason govern fantasye" (45v), “Nowe fare well love and theye lawes forever” (75r), and “Tanglid I was yn loves snare” (79v-80r).