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ll Sir Thomas Wyatt ll 'My Lute, Awake!' ll English Literature ll

Sir Thomas Wyatt:  'My Lute, Awake!'

Summary

Lines 1-5

The first five lines present the musician and his lute preparing to perform their last, wasted, effort. The song will be cyclical – ending as it begins – and when the song is finished, he commands his lute to stop, as he has given up.

Lines 6-10

The musician explains that to be heard when there is no audience is like trying to engrave marble with lead. Similarly, he says, he cannot pierce his lady’s heart. He asks whether he should complain or rejoice, but decides against these as he is resigned to his fate.

Lines 11-15

The rocks that continually repulse the waves are not as cruel as the woman who constantly rejects his love and attention. Now he is past caring and repeats his refrain of resignation – ‘I have done’.

Lines 16-20

The narrator speaks directly to his lady, saying that her rejection of him will be avenged as she trivializes his genuine suffering. He tells her she is not alone, and that she is free to continue her torture of others, although him, and his lute, have quit.

Lines 21-25

Again directly to the lady, the narrator predicts that she may lie old and wrinkled through cold winter nights, complaining to the moon. Then, the wishes she now keeps secret will not have an audience, for he will have given up.

Lines 26-30

Then, he says, she may perhaps be remorseful of the time she spent and lost making others fall for her. Then, she will learn that beauty is temporary, and will desire, and hope, as he has.

Lines 31-35

The narrator now directs his attentions back to his lute, telling it that this is their last pointless task together and that they will end as they began; with the song over, the lute is still and the song is ended.


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