Death & Dying

A Tribute to Wyatt

by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey 1517–1547

From Poems (ed. Padelford, 1920)

Death & Dying

In the rude age when scyence was not so rife,
If Jove in Crete, and other where they taught
Artes to reverte to profyte of our lyfe,
Wan after deathe to have their temples sought;
If vertue yet, in no vnthankfull tyme,
Fayled of some to blast her endles fame —
A goodlie meane bothe to deter from cryme
And to her steppes our sequell to enflame;
In deyes of treuthe, if Wyattes frendes then waile —
The onelye debte that ded of quycke may clayme —
That rare wit spent, employde to our avayle,
Where Christe is tought, deserve they monnis blame?
His livelie face thy brest how did it freate,
Whose cynders yet with envye doo the eate.

MLA

Howard, Henry, Earl of Surrey. “A Tribute to Wyatt.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/surrey/43/.

Chicago

Howard, Henry, Earl of Surrey. “A Tribute to Wyatt.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/surrey/43/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey