The Devonshire Manuscript/To make an ende of all this strif

f. [83r]

1    To make an ende of all this strif 2    no lenger {g'} tyme for to sustaine 3    but now withe dethe to chaung the lif 4    of him that lyves alwaies in payne / 5    dispaire suche powre hathe yn his hande 6    that helpith most I kno certeyne / 7    may not with {w+t+} stonde / f. [83v]

8    maye not with {w+t+} stande that is electe 9    bye fortunis most extremytie 10    but all in worthe to be excepte 11    with {w+t+} outen lawe or libretye 12    what vaylithe then vnto my thought 13    yf right can have no remedie 14    there vaylith nought

15    there vaylithe nought but all in vaine 16    the fawte thereof maye none amende 17    but onlie dethe for to constraine 18    this spightfull happ. to have an ende / 19    so grete disdaine dothe me pro {p3} voke 20    that drede of dethe cannot deffende 21    this dedelye stroke

22    this dedelie stroke wherebye shall seace 23    the harborid sighis with {w+t+} in my herte 24    and for the gifte of this relese 25    my hand in haste shall playe his parte 26    to doo this cure againste his kinde 27    {{s}8} {_o} {_o} forom ch for chaunge of lif from long deserte 28   . to place assignid

29    To place assignid forever more 30    nowe bye constrainte I do agre / 31    to loose the bonde of my restore 32    wherein is bounde my librte 33    dethe and dispaire doth vndre take 34    from {_o} all mishap full now hardilye 35    this ende to make

fs

Commentary
Attributed to Sir Thomas Wyatt, this poem was entered by H8. The speaker feels dispirited and sees only death as a remedy to his or her spiteful fortune. The speaker’s despair possibly stems from difficulties in love and in preferment.