The Devonshire Manuscript/What helpythe hope of happy hape

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The Devonshire Manuscript facsimile 46v

The Devonshire Manuscript facsimile 47r

 f. [46v] 

1    What helpythe hope of happy hape
2    when hap will hap vnhappyly
3    what helpythe hope to fle the trape
4    which hape doth set malycyowsly
5    my hope and hape hap con{_o}trary
6    For as my hope for right doth long
7    So dothe my hap Awarde{d,} me wrong

8    And thus my hape my hope hath turnd
9    Clere owte of hope in to dispayre
10    fore thowgh[t] I burne and long have burnde
11    In fyry love of one most fayere
12    wher love for love shuld kepe the chayre¹
13    ther my myshap ys over prest
14    to sett disdayne for my vnrest

15    She knowth my love of long tym ment
16    She knowith my trewth nothing ys hide
17    she knowith I loue in good intent
18    As euer man A woman dide
19    yett love for love in vayn askeyde
20    what clowde hath browght this thunderclape
21    shall I blam here nay I blame happ

f. [47r] 

ffor wher as
22    For wher as hape list to Arisse
23    I So bothe other she & other cane
24    for lytyll love moch love devyse
25    And somtyme hape doth love so skan
26    Some one to leve here faythfull man
27    Whome sayvyng bondshyp nowght doth crave
28    For hym she owght nor can not have

29    How beyt that hap makyth you so doo
30    So say I not nor other wisse
31    But what such happs by hap hap too
32    hap dayly showith in excersyce
33    As power will serve I youe advisse
34    to fle such hape for hap that growith
35    And pardon me your man tom trowght

36    Some tak no care wher they haue cure
37    Some ^^haue no cure and yett tak care
38    and so do I swett hart be sure
39    my love most care for your welfare
40    I love ^^youe more then I declare
41    But as for hap happyng this yll
42    hap shall I hate hape what hap will

ffinis /

Notes & Glosses

     1. Chere?

Commentary

Written in TH1's hand, this poem remains unattributed and is unique to this manuscript. This poem might be a response to Sir Thomas Wyatt's poem “Hap hath happed” which is not found in this manuscript: the speaker, describing his unreturned love, finds the lady blameless and instead accuses Fortune of his unrewarded outcome. The poem seems carefully corrected throughout the page.