The Devonshire Manuscript/whan that I call vnto my mynde

f. [82v]

1    whan that I call vnto my mynde 2    the tyme of hope that ons I hade 3    the grete abuse that ded me blinde 4    dothe force me allwaies to be sad 5    yet of my greef I fayne me glad 6    but on assurid I was to bolde 7    to truste to such a slippre {p'} holde /

8    I thought yt well that I had wrought 9    willing forthewith {w+t+} so to ensue 10    but he that sekis as I have sought 11    shall finde most trust oft tymes vntrue 12    for lest I reckte that most I rue 13    of that I thought my silf most sure 14    ys nowe the wante of all my cure / f. [83r]

15    Amiddes {es} my welthe I dede not reke 16    but sone alas or that I wiste 17    to weake the tyme was come that {{th}+t+} all toweake 18    I had no powre to to resiste 19    nowe am I prof. to. them that liste 20    to flee suche woo. and wrongfull paine 21    as in my herte I doo sustayne /

22    for faynid faithe is alwaies free 23    and dothe inclyne to bee vniuste 24    that sure I thinck there can {_a} n none bee 25    to miche assurid with {w+t+} out mistruste 26    but hap what maye. to theim that muste 27    Sustaine suche cruell destenye 28    wythe patiens for remedye /

29    As I am on b iche bye restrainte 30    abides the tyme of my retorne 31    yn hope that fortune bye my playnte 32    burn wyll slake the fire wherewith {w+t+} I borurne 33    sins no waies els maye ser {{s}8} ue my torne 34    yet for the dowt of this distresse 35    I aske but right for my redresse /

fs

Commentary
Attributed to Sir Thomas Wyatt, this poem was entered by H8. In this poem, the speaker feels disappointed by someone who appeared faithful but is really untrue. Similar to many courtly love lyrics, this poem can be interpreted as commenting on both love and politics. This poem is one of a several entries in the manuscript that speaks of counterfeiting feelings in public (for instance, see: “Sum summ say I love sum say I moke” (58v), “In places Wher that I company” (62r), "I ame not she be prowess off syt" (65r), “Myght I as well within my song be lay” (65v), “To cowntarffete a mery mode” (65v), and “Ceaser whan the traytor of egipte” (70r)).