Quote#Remembrance
They flee from me that sometime did me seek
Quote byThomas Wyatt · 1503–1542
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: "They Flee from Me".
English (original)
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.
— Thomas Wyatt
More from Thomas Wyatt
Behold love, thy power how she despiseth: My great pain, how little she regardeth The holy oath, whereof she taketh no cure Broken she hath: and yet she bideth sure Right at her ease, and little she dreadeth.
What should I say? Since Faith is dead, And Truth away From you is fled?
And wilt thou leave me thus? Say nay! say nay! for shame! To save thee from the blame Of all my grief and grame. And wilt thou leave me thus? Say nay! say nay!
Forget not yet the tried intent Of such a truth as I have meant; My great travail so gladly spent, Forget not yet!
My lute, awake! perform the last Labour that thou and I shall waste, And end that I have now begun; For when this song is sung and past, My lute, be still, for I have done.
Can ye say nay, But that you said That I alway Should be obeyed? And thus betrayed, Or that I wist!