Back to the page: “The Best Poems of the English Language”
So Cruel Prison
So cruel prison, how could betide, alas,
As proud Windsor, where I, in lust and joy,
With a king’s son my childish years did pass,
In greater feast than Priam’s sons of Troy,
Where each sweet place returns a taste full sour.
The large green courts, where we were wont to hove,
With eyes cast up unto the maiden’s tower,
And easy sighs such as folk draw in love.
The stately sails, the ladies bright of hue,
The dances short, long tales of great delight,
With words and looks that tigers could but rue,
Where each of us did plead the other’s right.
The palm-play, where, despoilëd for the game,
With dazëd eyes oft we by gleams of love
Have missed the ball, and got sight of our dame,
To bait her eyes which kept the leads above.
The gravelled ground, with sleeves tied on the helm;
On foaming horse, with swords and friendly hearts,
With chere as though the one should overwhelm,
Where we have fought and chasëd oft with darts.
With silver drops the meads yet spread for ruth,
In active games of nimbleness and strength,
Where we did strain, trailëd by swarms of youth,
Our tender limbs, that yet shot up in length.
The secret groves, which oft we made resound
Of pleasant plaint and of our ladies’ praise,
Recording soft what grace each one had found,
What hope of speed, what dread of long delays.
The wild forest, the clothëd holt with green,
With reins availed and swift y-breathëd horse,
With cry of hounds and merry blasts between,
Where we did chase the fearful hart aforce.
The void walls eke, that harbored us each night—
Wherewith, alas, reviveth in my breast
The sweet accord, such sleeps as yet delight,
The pleasant dreams, the quiet bed of rest,
The secret thoughts imparted with such trust,
The wanton talk, the divers change of play;
The friendship sworn, each promise kept so just,
Wherewith we passed the winter night away.
And with this thought the blood forsakes my face,
The tears berain my cheeks of deadly hue:
The which, as soon as sobbing sighs, alas,
Up-suppëd have, thus I my plaint renew:
“O place of bliss! renewer of my woes!
Give me accompt where is my noble fere
Whom in thy walls thou didst each night enclose,
To other lief, but unto me most dear.”
Echo, alas, that doth my sorrow rue,
Returns thereto a hollow sound of plaint.
Thus I, alone, where all my freedom grew,
In prison pine with bondage and restraint:
And with remembrance of the greater grief,
To banish the less, I find my chief relief.