Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BALLADE: 26, by THOMAS WYATT Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Greeting to you both in hearty wise Last Line: And hath him recommended to the cat and mouse. Alternate Author Name(s): Wyat, Thomas Subject(s): Bodies; Fear; Hope; Love; Soul; Optimism | ||||||||
Greeting to you both in hearty wise As, unknown, I send (and this my intent As I do here) you to advertise Lest that perchance your deeds you do repent. The unknown man dreads not to be shent But says as he thinks: so fares it by me That neither fear nor hope in no degree. The body and the soul to hold together It is but right, and reason wills the same; And friendly the one to love the other It increaseth your bruit and also your fame. But mark well my words, for I fear no blame: Trust well yourselves but ware ye trust no moe, For such as ye think your friend may fortune be your foe. Beware hardily ere ye have any need And to friends reconciled trust not greatly, For they that once with hasty speed Exiled themselves out of your company, Though they turn again and speak sweetly, Feigning themselves to be your friends fast, Beware of them for they will deceive you at last. Fair words makes fools fain And bearing in hand causeth much woe. For time trieth troth; therefore refrain And from such as be ready to do - None do I name but this I know, That by this fault cause causeth much. Therefore beware if ye do know any such. 'To wise folks few words' is an old saying; Therefore at this time I will write no more. But this short lesson take for a warning: By such light friends set little store; If ye do otherwise ye will repent it sore. And thus of this letter making an end, To the body and the soul I me commend. Written lifeless at the manor place Of him that hath no chaff nor nowhere doth dwell, But wandering in the wild world, wanting that he has, And neither hopes nor fears heaven nor hell But liveth at adventure. Ye know him full well. The twenty day of March he wrote it in his house And hath him recommended to the cat and mouse. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOPE IS NOT FOR THE WISE by ROBINSON JEFFERS SONNET by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON SPRING FLOODS by MAURICE BARING SONNET: 9. HOPE by WILLIAM LISLE BOWLES |
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