Henry Howard, Earl Of Surrey(ea. 1517–1547)

So Cruel Prison

So cruel prison how could betide, alas,befall

As proud Windsor' Where I in lust and joypleasure

With a king's son my childish years did passyouthful

In greater feast than Priarn'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 maidens' tower,

And easy sighs, such as folk draw in love;

The stately sales, the ladies bright of hue,halls

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, despoiled for thehandball / disrobed

game,

With dazed 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 graveled ground, with sleeves tied on the helm,>

On foaming horse, with swords and friendly hearts,

With cheer, as though the one should overwhelm;

Where we have fought, and chased oft with darts,

With silver drops the meads yet spread for ruth, meadows / pity

In active games of nimbleness and strength,

Where we did strain, trailed 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 clothed holt with green,small -wood

With reins avaled, and swift ybreathedslackened / exercised

horse,

With cry of hounds and merry blasts between,

Where we did chase the fearful hart aforce;strenuously

The void walls eke that harbored us each night,also

Wherewith, alas, revive within 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 nights away.

And with this thought the blood forsakes my face,

The tears berain my cheeks of deadly hue,wet

The which as soon as sobbing sighs, alas,

Upsupped have, thus I my plaint renew:absorbed

place of bliss, renewer of my woes,

Give me accompC-where is my noble ferecompanion

Whom in thy walls thou didst each night enclose,

To other lief, but unto me most dear!beloved

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.