Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503-1542)
The Heart and Service
1The heart and service to you proffer'd
2With right good will full honestly,
3Refuse it not, since it is offer'd,
4But take it to you gentlely.
5And though it be a small present,
6Yet good, consider graciously
7The thought, the mind, and the intent
8Of him that loves you faithfully.
9It were a thing of small effect
10To work my woe thus cruelly,
11For my good will to be abject:
12Therefore accept it lovingly.
13Pain or travel, to run or ride,
14I undertake it pleasantly;
15Bid ye me go, and straight I glide
16At your commandement humbly.
17Pain or pleasure, now may you plant
18Even which it please you steadfastly;
19Do which you list, I shall not want
20To be your servant secretly.
21And since so much I do desire
22To be your own assuredly,
23For all my service and my hire
24Reward your servant liberally.
Notes
13] travel: possibly "travail": hard work.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: British Library Devonshire MS. 2711, fol. 11v; cf. Collected Poems of Sir Thomas Wyatt, ed. Kenneth Muir and Patricia Thomson (Liverpool, 1969): 193.
First publication date:
1815
RPO poem editor: F. D. Hoeniger, Ian Lancashire
RP edition: RP 1963: I.9; RPO 1994.
Recent editing: 2:2002/4/24
Composition date note: Unknown. The attribution to Wyatt is doubtful.
Rhyme: abab
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