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The Long Love that in my Thought doth Harbour

Wyatt, Sir Thomas
1The longë love that in my thought doth harbour
2And in mine hert doth keep his residence,
3Into my face presseth with bold pretence
4And therein campeth, spreading his banner.
5She that me learneth to love and suffer
6And will that my trust and lustës negligence
7Be rayned by reason, shame, and reverence,
8With his hardiness taketh displeasure.
9Wherewithall unto the hert's forest he fleeth,
10Leaving his enterprise with pain and cry,
11And there him hideth and not appeareth.
12What may I do when my master feareth
13But in the field with him to live and die?
14For good is the life ending faithfully.

Notes

1] The source of the poem is Petrarch's 140th (109th) sonnet (Mestica, 213-14):
Amor, che nel penser mio vive e regna,
E 'l suo seggio maggior nel mio cor têne,
Talor armato ne la fronte vêne:
Ivi si loca, et ivi pon sua insegna.
Quella ch' amare e sofferir ne 'nsegna,
E vôl che 'l gran desio, l' accesa spene
Ragion, vergogna e reverenza affrene,
Di nostro ardir fra sé stessa si sdegna.
Onde Amor paventoso fugge al core,
Lasciando ogni sua impresa, e piange e trema;
Ivi s'asconde, e non appar piú fôre.
Che poss' io far, temendo il mio signore,
Se non star seco infin a l' ora estrema?
Ché bel fin fa chi ben amando more.
Cf. Surrey's Love, that liveth, a translation of the same sonnet.

Title: "The lover for shamefastnesse hideth his desire within his faithfull hart."

longë: lasting (the final "e" was probably sounded).
harbour: temporarily reside. Back to Line

2] hert: Egerton MS. spelling (also line 9), playing on "hart" (=deer) and "heart." Back to Line
4] spreading his banner: the look of someone in love, displayed unashamedly (a lord showing himself openly on the field of battle). Back to Line
5] learneth: teaches. Back to Line
6] will: to will, i.e., to make sure that.
trust and lustës negligence: (public) confidence (in her love) and the neglect (of propriety in showing) sexual desire (for her). Back to Line
7] rayned: Egerton MS. spelling, playing on "reined" and "reigned." Back to Line
8] his: the god of Love's.
hardiness: boldness. Back to Line
9] the hert's forest: a phrase not in Petrarch, one that plays on "hart's"=(deer's) and "heart's." Back to Line
13] in the field with him: inconsistent with line 9 (the lord has fled to the forest). Back to Line