In Spain

In Spain

Original Text
British Library Egerton MS. 2711, fol. 69 (holograph); cf. Richard Harrier, Canon (1975): 211; facsimile in Anthony G. Petti, English Literary Hands from Chaucer to Dryden (London: Edward Arnold, 1977).
1Tagus, farewell! that westward with thy streams
2Turns up the grains of gold already tried
3With spur and sail, for I go seek the Thames
4Gainward the sun that shewth her wealthy pride,
5And to the town which Brutus sought by dreams,
6Like bended moon doth lend her lusty side.
7My king, my country, alone for whome I live,
8Of mighty love the wings for this me give.

Notes

1] The autograph copy is without a title, but in Tottel's miscellany (1557) this poem is published as follows, without attribution to Wyatt, under the title "Of his returne from Spaine" (L1r). (Variants from the Wyatt's own autograph manuscript are bolded in the Tottel text.)

TAgus farewel that westward with thy stremes
Turnes vp the graines of gold already tried,
For I with spurre and saile go seke the temmes,
Gaineward the sunne that sheweth her welthy pride,
And to the towne that Brutus sought by dreames,
Like bended mone that leanes her lusty side.
My king, my countrey, I seke for whom I liue,
O mighty Ioue the windes for this me geue.
The revisions appear not to be Wyatt's. His point is that London as a "bended mone" adds its powers of attraction to those of the sun, found against the city's Thames, to draw him home. Wyatt's direct appeal to the Protestant king, Henry VIII, is replaced during Mary's catholic reign by a conventional address to Jove.

Tagus: River in Spain well known for its golden sands. Back to Line

4] Gainward: against, i.e., eastward. Back to Line
5] which: replacing Wyatt's thorn (evidently intending "yt") and added above.
Brutus: founder of New Troy, that is, London: a descendant of Aeneus, son of Priam, king of Troy in the war with the Greeks under Agamemnon. Back to Line
6] bended moon: possibly alluding to the shape of the walled city of London, which rests like a sickle- or half-moon northwards from the Thames. Back to Line
7] My king: Henry VIII.
alone: added by Wyatt above the line with a caret.
I live: added by Wyatt at line's end after he crossed out "only alone". Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1557
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 1997.
Rhyme
abababcc