Sir Thomas Wyatt, "They flee from me"

[rfmcdonald]

They flee from me that soemtime 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 put themselves in danger
To take bread at my hand; and now they range
Busily seeking with a continual change.

Thanked by fortune, it has been otherwise
Twenty times better; but once in special,
In thine array after a pleasant gyse,
When her loose gown from her shoulders did fall,
And she me caught in her arms long and small;
Therewithall sweetly did me kiss,
And softly said, dear heart, how like you this?

It was no dream: I lay broad awake.
But all is turned through my gentleness
Into a strange fashion of forsaking;
And I have leave to go of her goodness,
And she also to use new fangleness.
But since that I so kindly am served,
I would fain know what she has deserved.