Sir Thomas Wyatt translations 2

SIR THOMAS WYATT TRANSLATIONS 2 What menethe this? by Sir Thomas Wyatt, circa early 16th century loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch WHAT does this mean, when I lie alone? I toss, I turn, I sigh, I groan; My bed seems near as hard as stone: What means this? I sigh, I plain continually; The clothes that on my bed do lie, Always, methinks, they lie awry; What means this? In slumbers oft for fear I quake; For heat and cold I burn and shake; For lack of sleep my head doth ache; What means this? At mornings then when I do rise, I turn unto my wonted guise, All day thereafter, muse and devise; What means this? And if perchance by me there pass, She, unto whom I sue for grace, The cold blood forsaketh my face; What means this? But if I sit with her nearby, With a loud voice my heart doth cry, And yet my mouth is dumb and dry; What means this? To ask for help, no heart I have; My tongue doth fail what I should crave; Yet inwardly I rage and rave; What means this? Thus I have passed many a year, And many a day, though nought appear, But most of that which I most I fear; What means this? *** Yet ons I was by Sir Thomas Wyatt, circa early 16th century loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Once in your grace I know I was, Even as well as now is he; Though Fortune hath so turned my case That I am down and he full high; Yet once I was. Once I was he that did you please So well that nothing did I doubt, And though today ye think it ease To take him in and throw me out; Yet once I was. Once I was he, in times past. That as your own ye did retain: And though ye have me now out-cast, Showing untruth in you to reign; Yet once I was. Once I was he that knit the knot The which ye swore not to unknit, And though ye feign it now forgot, In using your newfangled wit; Yet once I was. Once I was he to whom ye said, “Welcome, my joy, my whole delight!” And though ye are now well repaid Of me, your own, your claim seems slight; Yet once I was. Once I was he to whom ye spake, “Have here my heart! It is thy own.” And though these words ye now forsake, Saying thereof my part is none; Yet once I was. Once I was he that led the cast, But now am he that must needs die. And though I die, yet, at the last, In your remembrance let it lie, That once I was. Keywords/Tags: Wyatt, translation, lie, alone, lonely, loneliness, sigh, bed, stone, fear, sleep, heart, mean, meaning, meaneth, meaningful, die, death, voice, poet, poets, poetry, writing