| Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1517–47). The Poetical Works. 1880. | | | | Songs and Sonnets | | Complaint that his Lady, after she knew his Love, kept her Face always hidden from him |
| | | I NEVER saw my Lady lay apart | |
| Her cornet 1 black, in cold nor yet in heat, | |
| Sith first she knew my grief was grown so great; | |
| Which other fancies driveth from my heart, | |
| That to myself I do the thought reserve, | 5 |
| The which unwares did wound my woful breast; | |
| But on her face mine eyes might never rest. | |
| Yet since she knew I did her love and serve, | |
| Her golden tresses clad alway with black, | |
| Her smiling looks that hid thus evermore, | 10 |
| And that restrains which I desire so sore. | |
| So doth this cornet govern me alack! | |
| In summer, sun, in winter’s breath, a frost; | |
| Whereby the light of her fair looks I lost. | |
| | | Note 1. A head dress, with a hood or veil attached to it. [back] | | |
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