Love

If fansy would favor

by Sir Thomas Wyatt 1503–1542

From The Poems of Sir Thomas Wiat (ed. A. K. Foxwell, 1913)

Love

If fansy would favor.
As my deserving shall ;
My love, my paramor,
Should love me best of all.

But if I cannot attain
The grace that I desir;
Then may I well complain
My service and my hier.

Ffansy doeth knowe how
To fourther my trew hert;
If fansy myght avowe
With faith to take part.

But fansy is so fraill
And flitting still so fast;
That faith may not prevaill
To helpe me furst nor last.

Ffor fansy at his lust
Doeth rule all but by gesse,
Whereto should I then trust
In trouth or stedfastnes?

Yet gladdely would I please
The fansy of her hert ;
That may me onely ease
And cure my carefull smart.

Therefore, my lady dere
Set ons your fantasy,
To make som hope appere
Of stedfastnes, remedy.

Ffor if he be my frend.
And undertake my woo.
My greif is at an end
If he continue so.

Elles fansy doeth not ryght.
As I deserve and shall ;
To have you daye and nyght,
To love me best of all.

MLA

Wyatt, Thomas. “If fansy would favor.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wyatt/87/.

Chicago

Wyatt, Thomas. “If fansy would favor.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wyatt/87/.

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