Sir Thomas Wyatt: Poems Summary and

Analysis of 'They Flee From Me'

Summary

Lines 1-5

The poet directly asserts that the acquaintance to whom the poem is about once actively sought
his company, yet now avoids him. The acquaintance had formerly been exposed in his chamber,
and presented as a mild, disciplined and docile character; but is now unpredictable and has
forgotten their former intimacy. The relationship has been unsafe for the acquaintance on
occasion.

Lines 6-9

The danger has been in being close to the poet, eating together. The change now sees the
acquaintance looking further abroad in search of new interests. The poet is grateful that this was
not the situation in the past; the relationship has been at least twenty times better.

Lines 10-14

Wearing thin clothing, after a pleasant show, ‘her’ loose dress fell from her shoulders. She took
the poet in her arms and kissed him tenderly. She then asked him directly if he was happy.

Lines 15-17

He recalls that this was not a dream as he was fully awake. He next notes that everything has
now changed because of his mild nature, to a cruel situation of his abandonment.

Lines 18-21

He is now released from her for decency’s sake, and she is released to allow a new encounter.
However, he questions, has he has been treated badly, what is the reader’s view? What is ‘she’
now worthy of?

Analysis

The poem employs the technique of rime royal, used most notably by Geoffrey Chaucer. The
technique consists of a seven-line structure, using iambic pentameter with the rhyme scheme
ABABBCC. There are two ways in which the septet is structured: the tercet and two couplets
(ABA, BB, CC) and the quatrain and tercet (ABAB, BCC). ‘They Flee From Me’ uses both
structures within its 21 lines: the tercet and couplets in lines 1-7 and the quatrain and tercet for
lines 8-14 and 15-21. The poem presents three key ideas which are enhanced by this structure:
that the poet is now rejected, that he was once favored and that there is a question as to how his
lover should fare now she has abandoned him.

Lines 1-7

The poet begins in direct fashion, showing a paradox within the first line. ‘They’ now run from
him, who formerly sought him out. The image of the ‘naked foot’ implies an intimate liaison,
and the verb ‘stalking’ suggests that the visitor was the instigator of the association. Line 3
explains that this association was set in the poet’s room, adding to the tone of intimacy and
secrecy in the relationship.

In line 3, the former acquaintance used to be calm, obedient and tame, but line 4 explains they
are now uncontrollable and have forgotten the past. This second contrast of the past and the
present emphasizes the dramatic change in the relationship. Line 5 expresses that the subject has
taken risk to be with the poet.

The unnatural division between the poet and his lady is further highlighted by lines 5 and 6;
which are connected by enjambment, then line 6 is divided within itself through the caesura.
These techniques reflect the unconventional union and the poet’s distress at the end of it.

The image of taking bread may refer to the act of Holy Communion, or implies an intimacy in
the sharing of bread with close associates. There is also a suggestion of deference to the poet.
After the caesura, the seemingly obedient and loyal partner is roaming, actively searching for
new attractions. It is implied that the variety and frequency of the new liaisons is what the lady
seeks, not just a new partner; which suggests a licentiousness in the lady.

Lines 8-14

The poet expresses a bitter resignation that at least he has experienced a situation better than his
present state. Fortune is personified as the benefactor of his earlier happiness; the poet is
suggesting that the past joys were the product of luck, as opposed to love or deliberate action.
His recollection is an occasion ‘Twenty times better’ when he recalls the lady, after a show for
him in flimsy dress, held him and kissed him and asked if she was giving him pleasure. It seems
at this time she was devoted to him, which makes the change in situation more intense.

Lines 15-21

Caesura is used again in line 15; where he asserts that the past, and this experience, was not a
dream. Now though, it appears that the liaison was a dream as the relationship is ‘turn’d’. He
blames his own manner: that of mildness, gentility and propriety, for the end of the affair, and he
feels the harsh effects of the rejection.

The poet’s expression that he has released his lover to move on communicates an initial tone of
acquiescence. However, the final lines of the poem show the real resentment and anger that the
poet has in being rejected and left behind. He appeals directly to his audience, asking for their
view as to what response her actions and behavior warrant.
 It is possible to see the poem as a reflection on his liaison with Anne Boleyn before her union
and marriage to Henry VIII. However, the tone of anger and frustration at being forsaken for
another could apply equally well to Wyatt's first marriage as he separated from his wife due to
her adultery. The relationship could also be a metaphor for the courtly relations, platonic and
romantic, which were born and died with dangerous haste.

The Heart and Service

By Sir Thomas Wyatt
The heart and service to you proffer'd
With right good will full honestly,
Refuse it not, since it is offer'd,
But take it to you gentlely.

And though it be a small present,

Yet good, consider graciously
The thought, the mind, and the intent
Of him that loves you faithfully.

It were a thing of small effect

To work my woe thus cruelly,
For my good will to be abject:
Therefore accept it lovingly.

Pain or travel, to run or ride,

I undertake it pleasantly;
Bid ye me go, and straight I glide
At your commandement humbly.

Pain or pleasure, now may you plant

Even which it please you steadfastly;
Do which you list, I shall not want
To be your servant secretly.

And since so much I do desire

To be your own assuredly,
For all my service and my hire
Reward your servant liberally.

The Long Love - Poem by Sir Thomas Wyatt

The long love that in my thought doth harbour,
And in mine heart doth keep his residence,
Into my face presseth with bold pretence,
And therein campeth, spreading his banner.
She that me learneth to love and suffer,
And wills that my trust and lust's negligence
Be reined by reason, shame, and reverence,
With his hardiness taketh displeasure.
Wherewithal, unto the heart's forest he fleeth,
Leaving his enterprise with pain and cry;
And there him hideth, and not appeareth.
What may I do when my master feareth
But in the field with him to live or die?
For good is the life ending faithfully.

The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

Horace

The Country Mouse And The Town Mouse -

Poem by Sir Thomas Wyatt
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My mother's maids, when they did sew and spin,

They sang sometime a song of the field mouse,
That for because her livelood was but thin
Would needs go seek her townish sister's house.
She thought herself endured to much pain:
The stormy blasts her cave so sore did souse
That when the furrows swimmed with the rain
She must lie cold and wet in sorry plight,
And, worse than that, bare meat there did remain
To comfort her when she her house had dight:
Sometime a barleycorn, sometime a bean,
For which she labored hard both day and night
In harvest time, whilst she might go and glean.
And when her store was 'stroyed with the flood,
Then well away, for she undone was clean.
Then was she fain to take, instead of food,
Sleep if she might, her hunger to beguile.
"My sister," qoth she, "hath a living good,
And hence from me she dwelleth not a mile.
In cold and storm she lieth warm and dry
In bed of down, and dirt doth not defile
Her tender foot, she laboreth not as I.
Richly she feedeth and at the rich man's cost,
And for her meat she needs not crave nor cry.
By sea, by land, of the delicates the most
Her cater seeks and spareth for no peril.
She feedeth on boiled, baken meat, and roast,
And hath thereof neither charge nor travail.
And, when she list, the liquor of the grape
Doth goad her heart till that her belly swell."
And at this journey she maketh but a jape:
So forth she goeth, trusting of all this wealth
With her sister her part so for to shape
That, if she might keep herself in health,
To live a lady while her life doth last.
And to the door now is she come by stealth,
And with her foot anon she scrapeth full fast.
The other for fear durst not well scarce appear,
Of every noise so was the wretch aghast.
"Peace," quoth the town mouse, "why speakest thou so loud?"
And by the hand she took her fair and well.
"Welcome," quoth she, "my sister, by the rood."
She feasted her that joy is was to tell
The fare they had; they drank the wine so clear;
And as to purpose now and then it fell
She cheered her with: "How, sister, what cheer?"
Amids this joy there fell a sorry chance,
That, wellaway, the stranger bought full dear
The fare she had. For as she looks, askance,
Under a stool she spied two steaming eyes
In a round head with sharp ears. In France
was never mouse so feared, for though the unwise
Had not yseen such a beast before,
Yet had nature taught her after her guise
To know her foe and dread him evermore.
The town mouse fled; she knew whither to go.
The other had no shift, but wondrous sore
Feared of her life, at home she wished her, though.
And to the door, alas, as she did skip
(Th' heaven it would, lo, and eke her chance was so)
At the threshold her silly foot did trip,
And ere she might recover it again
The traitor cat had caught her by the hip
And made her there against her will remain
That had forgotten her poor surety, and rest,
For seeming wealth wherein she thought to reign.
Alas, my Poynz, how men do seek the best
And find the worst, by error as they stray.
And no marvel, when sight is so opprest
And blind the guide. Anon out of the way
Goeth guide and all in seeking quiet life.
O wretched minds, there is no gold that may
Grant that ye seek, no war, no peace, no strife,
No, no, although thy head was hoopt with gold,
Sergeant with mace, haubert, sword, nor knife
Cannot repulse the care that follow should.
Each kind of life hath with him his disease:
Live in delight even as thy lust would,
And thou shalt find when lust doth most thee please
It irketh strait and by itself doth fade.
A small thing it is that may thy mind appease.
None of ye all there is that is so mad
To seek grapes upon brambles or breers,
Not none I trow that hath his wit so bad
To set his hay for conies over rivers,
Ne ye set not a drag net for an hare
And yet the thing that most is your desire
Ye do misseek with more travail and care.
Make plain thine heart, that it be not notted
With hope or dread, and see thy will be bare
>From all effects whom vice hath ever spotted.
Thyself content with that is thee assigned,
And use it well that is to thee allotted,
Then seek no more out of thyself to find
The thing that thou hast sought so long before,
For thou shalt find it sitting in thy mind.
Mad, if ye list to continue your sore,
Let present pass, and gape on time to come,
And deep yourself in travail more and more.
Henceforth, my Poynz, this shall be all and some:
These wretched fools shall have nought else of me.
But to the great God and to His high doom
None other pain pray I for them to be
But, when the rage doth lead them from the right,
That, looking backward, Virtue they may see
Even as She is, so goodly fair and bright.
And whilst they clasp their lusts in arms across
Grant them, good Lord, as Thou mayst of Thy might,
To fret inward for losing such a loss.