The Devonshire Manuscript/Yf with complaint the paine might be exprest

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The Devonshire Manuscript facsimile 73r

f. [73r]

1    Yf with{w+t+} complaint the paine might be exprest
2    that inwardelye dothe cause me sigh & grone /
3    yo^r harde herte and yo^r cruell brest
4    shulde sighe and playne for my vnreste
5    and tho yt ware of stone /
6    yet shulde Remo^rse cause yt relent and mone /

7    But sins yt ys so faure out of mesure
8    {_o}{es} {w+t+} that with my wo^rdes I cannot yt ^not contayne
9    my onlye truste my hertes{es} tresure
10    alas whye doo I still indure
11    this resteles smerte and payne /
12    sins yf ye list ye maye my woo restraine

fs

Commentary

Attributed to Sir Thomas Wyatt, this poem was entered by H8. The speaker complains of the Lady’s cruelty, which causes him so much pain that he cannot express his feelings in words.