They Flee from Me That Sometime Did Me Seek
by Sir Thomas Wyatt
English poet. His poems were not published in his own lifetime, but were circulated in manuscript form among his friends. He is best known for his lyrics, particularly 'They Flee From Me' and 'Whoso List To Hunt'. Many of these were first published in 1557, in the collection now known as Tottel's Miscellany. He also wrote satires and translated the Penitential Psalms.
They Flee from Me That Sometime Did Me Seek
by Sir Thomas Wyatt
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They flee from me that sometime did me seek
With naked foot stalking in my chamber.
I have seen them gentle, tame, and meek,
That now are wild, and do not remember
That sometime they have put themselves in danger
To take bread at my hand; and now they range,
Busily seeking with a continual change. Thanked be to Fortune, it hath been otherwise
Twenty times better; but once in special:
In thin array, after a pleasant guise,
When her loose gown did from her shoulders fall,
And she me caught in her arms long and small,
Therewith all sweetly did me kiss
And softly said, "Dear heart, how like you this?" It was no dream, -I lay broad waking.
But all is turned, thorough my gentleness,
Into a strange fashion of forsaking:
And I have leave to go of her goodness,
And she also to use new-fangledness.
But since that I unkindly so am served,
I would fain know what hath she now deserved.
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