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2.11: "They Flee From Me"

  • Page ID
    8794
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    (1557)

    They flee from me that sometime did me seek

    With naked foot, stalking in my chamber.

    I have seen them gentle, tame, and meek,

    That now are wild and do not remember

    That sometime they put themself in danger

    To take bread at my hand; and now they range,

    Busily seeking with a continual change.

    Thanked be fortune it hath been otherwise

    Twenty times better; but once in special,

    In thin array after a pleasant guise,

    When her loose gown from her shoulders did fall,

    And she me caught in her arms long and small;

    Therewithall sweetly did me kiss

    And softly said, ‘dear heart, how like you this?’

    It was no dream: I lay broad waking.

    But all is turned thorough my gentleness

    Into a strange fashion of forsaking;

    And I have leave to go of her goodness,

    And she also, to use newfangleness.

    But since that I so kindly am served

    I would fain know what she hath deserved.


    This page titled 2.11: "They Flee From Me" is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Bonnie J. Robinson & Laura Getty (University of North Georgia Press) .

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