Three Wyatts: Early Modern Text
Translations of Sir Thomas Wyatt
Sir
Thomas Wyatt (1503-1542) was a poet immersed in the Tudor dynasty. His
relationship with Henry VIII and his involvement with politics gave Wyatt the
opportunity to observe the chaotic disorder of the court. Consequently, his
sonnets reflect the court life, as well as the political indiscretions he faced
himself, namely the suspected affair with Anne Boleyn. In the following three
translated sonnets, one can identify these historical paradigms of Wyatt’s
life.
The original
copy of the three sonnets provided comes from the printer Richard Tottel's Songs
and Sonnets written by the Right Honorable Lord Henry Howard late Earl of
Surrey and others. The book, commonly shortened to Songs and Sonnets, came
out in 1557, fifteen years after Wyatt’s death.
Moving to the edited copy, there are a few notable
changes. Most of the words, unless marked with a footnote, have been changed to
their contemporary spelling. For example, if a word in the original copy reads
as “wreke,” the edited version presents the contemporary spelling with “wreck.”
As opposed to the contemporary spellings, there are some which remain in their
original state. One reason a word is kept as its original spelling is to
preserve the rhyme and rhythm in a line. Also preserved is the punctuation. Again,
unless otherwise noted, the punctuation is exactly as is in the original text.
Overall, the
edited text is a close match to its original counterpart. There are
contemporary definitions from the OED when needed, however they are provided on
the side, not used as replacement words. Generally, as one reads the following edited
sonnets of Sir Thomas Wyatt, he or she is reading a piece as close to the 1557
document as possible.
Because
I still keep from lies and blame,
And
to my power always the honored,
Unkind
tongue, ill hast thou me rendred[2],
For
such desert to do me wreck and shame:
In
need of succorº most when that I am, help, aid
To
ask reward, thou standest like one afraid,
Always
most cold, and if one word be said
As
in a dream unperfectº is the same, imperfect
And
ye salt tears, against my will echeº night, increase
That
are with me when I would be alone,
Then
are ye gone, when I should make my moan
And
ye so ready sighs, to make me shrightº, shriek
Then
are ye slack, when that ye should out start
And
only doth my look declare my heart.
I find no peace, and all my war is done,
I fear and hope, I burn, and freeze like
ice,
I fly aloft, yet can I not arise,
And nought I have, all the world I
season[4],
That locks nor loseth, holdeth me in
prison,
And holdes me not, yet can I scape no
wise,
Nor lets me live, nor die, at my devise,
And yet of death it giveth me occasion.
I wish to perish, yet I ask for health,
I love another, and I hate myself,
I feed me in sorrow, I laugh in all my
pain,
Lo, thus displeaseth me both death and
life,
And my delight is causer of this strife.
My galley charged with forgetfulness,
Through sharp seas, in winter nights
doth pass
Tweneº rock, and rock and ekeº my foe
(alas) between / also, moreover
That is my lord[7],
stereth with cruelness,
And every hour, a thought in readiness,
As though that death were light in such
a case,
And endless wind doth tear the sail
apace
Of forced sighs and trusty fearfulness,
A rain of tears[8],
a cloud of dark disdain
Have done the wearied cords great hindrance[9],
Wretched with error and with ignorance
The stars be hid that lead me to this
pain.[10]
Drowned is reason that should be my
comfort
And I remain, despairing of the port.
[1] suits “Petition” or “plea”. Throughout his
life, Wyatt was imprisoned several times on what were more than likely false
and forced charges. In 1541, he was again taken to the Tower on old charges and
wrote a defense (i.e. a plea) which secured his release a year later.
[2] rendred Melted. It is the shortened form of “rendered,”
most likely shortened in order to match with the two-syllable word “honored” on
line two, keeping with the a b b a rhyme scheme of the first four lines.
[3]
contrarious Contradictory. Though it has never been
proven, there is evidence and popular belief that Wyatt had an affair with Anne
Boleyn. The most popular sonnet thought to be a reference to Anne Boleyn is
“Whoso list to hunt” where the speaker describes the gain of his lover as
synonymous with that of a hunter and a deer.
[4] And
nought … I season. I have
nothing, yet I have the means to enrich the world. Some translations have the
word “season” as “seize on.” However, early modern translations of the word
“season” have the possibility to mean “to
manure” or “to make plentiful,” hence adding to the poem’s idea of
contradictions with “nought” and “season” juxtaposed together.
[5] plain, The comma has been added and is not in
the original printing.
[6]
a
The “a” is added and not in the original text.
[7] my lord “Lord” may be a reference to Henry VIII.
Throughout his relationship with the Tudor court, Wyatt continuously fell out
of favor with Henry as well as back in favor with him, namely due to his
suspected affair with Anne Boleyn.
[8] tears In the original text, the word appears as
“teare.” The “s” has been added in the edited copy.
[9] hindrance The original text has the word spelled as
“hinderance,” adding an extra syllable to the line. The edited copy has the “e”
removed in order to keep the line as ten-syllables.
[10] pain. The period is an addition and not in the
original text.
Works Cited
Bates, Catherine. “Wyatt, Surrey, and the Henrician
Court.” Early Modern English Poetry: A
Critical Companion. Ed(s). Patrick Cheney, Andrew Hadfield, and Garrett A.
Sullivan, Jr. New York: Oxford U P, 2007. 38-47. Print.
Evans, Maurice. “Wyatt and Surrey.” English Poetry in the Sixteenth Century.
London: Hutchinson U Library, 1955. 61-82. Print.
Foley, Stephen Merriam. “Reading Thomas Wyatt’s
Hand.” Sir Thomas Wyatt. Boston:
Twayne, 1990. 1-33.
Jokinen, Anniina. “The Life of Sir Thomas Wyatt.” Luminarium.
Web. 20 Oct. 2011.
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