The Devonshire Manuscript/Who wold haue euer thowght

f. [21r]

1    Who wold haue euer {u'} thowght 2    A hart that {{th}+t+} was so sett 3    to haue suche wrong me wrowght 4    or to be cownterfett 5    but who that trustythe most 6    ys lyke to pay the cost

7    I must of force god wott 8    thys paynfull lyff susteyen 9    &amp; yet I know nott 10    the chefe cawse of my payn 11    thys ys a strange dyssase {u'} {{s}8} 12    to serve &amp; neuer plese

13    I must of force endure 14    thys drawght drawyn Away 15    ffor I am fast &amp; sure 16    to have the mate therby 17    But note I Wyll thys texte 18    to draw better {t'} the nexte

fynys s

Commentary
Attributed to Sir Thomas Wyatt, this poem was entered by H2. Using a chess metaphor to signify a courtly "game of love" (lines 14 and 16), the speaker denotes his or her displeasure at receiving the affections of a lover. Rebholz notes that lines 17-18 suggest that the poem's recollection will remind the speaker to choose a better love next time.