Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BALLADE: 5, by THOMAS WYATT Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Lover: it burneth yet, alas, my heart's desire Last Line: Thus hearts be won by love, request, and moan. Alternate Author Name(s): Wyat, Thomas Subject(s): Death; Desire; Grief; Hearts; Love; Dead, The; Sorrow; Sadness | ||||||||
LOVER: It burneth yet, alas, my heart's desire. LADY: What is the thing that hath inflamed thy heart? LOVER: A certain point, as fervent as the fire. LADY: The heat shall cease if that thou wilt convert. LOVER: I cannot stop the fervent raging ire. LADY: What may I do if thyself cause thy smart? LOVER: Hear my request and rue my weeping cheer. LADY: With right good will. Say on. Lo, I thee hear. LOVER: That thing would I that maketh two content. LADY: Thou seekest, perchance, of me that I may not. LOVER: Would God thou wouldst, as thou mayst well, assent. LADY: That I may not. Thy grief is mine, God wot. LOVER: But I it feel, whatso thy words have meant. LADY: Suspect me not. My words be not forgot. LOVER: Then say, alas, shall I have help or no? LADY: I see no time to answer. Yea. But no. LOVER: Say yea, dear heart, and stand no more in doubt. LADY: I may not grant a thing that is so dear. LOVER: Lo, with delays thou drives me still about. LADY: Thou wouldest my death. It plainly doth appear. LOVER: First may my heart his blood and life bleed out. LADY: Then for my sake, alas, thy will forbear. LOVER: From day to day thus wastes my life away. LADY: Yet, for the best, suffer some small delay. LOVER: Now, good, say yea. Do once so good a deed. LADY: If I said yea, what should thereof ensue? LOVER: An heart in pain, of succour so should speed. 'Twixt yea and nay my doubt shall still renew. My sweet, say yea and do away this dread. LADY: Thou wilt needs so. Be it so. But then be true. LOVER: Naught would I else, nor other treasure none. Thus hearts be won by love, request, and moan. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONOMA FIRE by JANE HIRSHFIELD AS THE SPARKS FLY UPWARDS by JOHN HOLLANDER WHAT GREAT GRIEF HAS MADE THE EMPRESS MUTE by JUNE JORDAN CHAMBER MUSIC: 19 by JAMES JOYCE |
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