| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Sir Thomas Wyatt. 1503–1542 |
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| 37. Vixi Puellis Nuper Idoneus... |
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| THEY flee from me that sometime did me seek, | |
| With naked foot stalking within my chamber: | |
| Once have I seen them gentle, tame, and meek, | |
| That now are wild, and do not once remember | |
| That sometime they have put themselves in danger | 5 |
| To take bread at my hand; and now they range, | |
| Busily seeking in continual change. | |
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| Thanked be fortune, it hath been otherwise | |
| Twenty times better; but once especial— | |
| In thin array: after a pleasant guise, | 10 |
| When her loose gown did from her shoulders fall, | |
| And she me caught in her arms long and small, | |
| And therewithal so sweetly did me kiss, | |
| And softly said, 'Dear heart, how like you this?' | |
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| It was no dream; for I lay broad awaking: | 15 |
| But all is turn'd now, through my gentleness, | |
| Into a bitter fashion of forsaking; | |
| And I have leave to go of her goodness; | |
| And she also to use new-fangleness. | |
| But since that I unkindly so am servèd, | 20 |
| 'How like you this?'—what hath she now deservèd? | |
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