George Boleyn - the Poet

Today is National Poetry Day. It is believed that the following poem was written by Thomas Wyatt. However, there is a possibility that this poem may have in fact have been written by George Boleyn, who also was a talented court poet:

The Lover Complaineth the Unkindness of His Love

My Lute awake, perform the last

Labour that thou and I shall waste,

And end that I have now begun!

And when this song is sung and rest,

My Lute be still, for I have done!

The rocks do not so cruelly

Repulse the waves continually,

As she my suit and affection:

So that I am past remedy;

Whereby my lute and I have done.

Proud of the spoil that thou hast got

Of simple hearts through Love’s shot,

By whom (unkind!) thou has them won,

Think not he hath his bow forgot,

Although my lute and I have done.

Vengeance shall fall on thy distain

That mak’st but game on earnest pain:

Think not alone under the sun

Unquit to cause thy lover’s plain

Although my lute and I have done.

May chance thee lie wither’d and old

In winter nights that are so cold,

Plaining in vain unto the moon:

Thy wishes then dare not be told,

Care then who list, for I have done.

And then may chance thee to repent

The time that thou hast lost and spent,

To cause thy lovers sigh and swoon;

Then shalt thou know beauty but lent,

And wish and want, as I have done.

Now cease my lute: this is the last

Labour that thou and I shall waste,

And ended is that we begun;

Now is this song both sung and past;

My lute be still, for I have done.

From http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com

Image – George Boleyn and Anne Boleyn as portrayed in The Tudors.