My Lute Awake

My Lute Awake

Original Text
British Library Egerton MS. 2711, fol. 43v-44; cf. Richard Harrier, Canon (1975): 157-58.
1My lute awake! perform the last
2Labour that thou and I shall waste,
3And end that I have now begun;
4For when this song is sung and past,
5My lute be still, for I have done.
6As to be heard where ear is none,
7As lead to grave in marble stone,
8My song may pierce her heart as soon;
9Should we then sigh or sing or moan?
10No, no, my lute, for I have done.
11The rocks do not so cruelly
12Repulse the waves continually,
13As she my suit and affection;
14So that I am past remedy,
15Whereby my lute and I have done.
16Proud of the spoil that thou hast got
17Of simple hearts thorough Love's shot,
18By whom, unkind, thou hast them won,
19Think not he hath his bow forgot,
20Although my lute and I have done.
21Vengeance shall fall on thy disdain
22That makest but game on earnest pain.
23Think not alone under the sun
24Unquit to cause thy lovers plain,
25Although my lute and I have done.
26Perchance thee lie wethered and old
27The winter nights that are so cold,
28Plaining in vain unto the moon;
29Thy wishes then dare not be told;
30Care then who list, for I have done.
31And then may chance thee to repent
32The time that thou hast lost and spent
33To cause thy lovers sigh and swoon;
34Then shalt thou know beauty but lent,
35And wish and want as I have done.
36Now cease, my lute; this is the last
37Labour that thou and I shall waste,
38And ended is that we begun.
39Now is this song both sung and past:
40My lute be still, for I have done.

Notes

1] "The louer complayneth the vnkindnes of his loue" (Tottel). Back to Line
2] labour: work, and petition. Back to Line
7] lead to grave: lead to engrave (lead is not hard enough to cut marble). Back to Line
17] thorough: through
Love's shot: Cupid's arrow. Back to Line
19] his bow forgot: Cupid's bow, still a danger for the lady. Back to Line
22] makest but game on: only makes fun of. Back to Line
24] Unquit: unrequited, not subjected to pain.
plain: to complain. Back to Line
26] wethered: withered (possibly weathered). Back to Line
27] nights: Devonshire MS reading; Egerton MS "night". Back to Line
28] plaining: complaining. Back to Line
30] who list: who likes. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1557
RPO poem Editors
F. D. Hoeniger; Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RP 1963: I.8; RPO 1994.
Rhyme
aabab