A Song Written By The Earl Of Surrey Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDBBEEFGHIBBJJ CGKKLLMMEENOPPDDQQRS BBPPTTUJPPVVWWMMCCXX CCWWMMCCYDZZWWKK

EACH beast can choose his fere according to his mindA
And eke can show a friendly chere like to their beastly kindA
A lion saw I late as white as any snowB
Which seemed well to lead the race his port the same did showB
Upon the gentle beast to gaze it pleased meC
For still methought he seemed well of noble blood to beC
And as he pranced before still seeking for a makeD
As who would say 'There is none here I trow will me forsake'D
I might perceive a Wolf as white as whal sboneB
A fairer beast of fresher hue beheld I never noneB
Save that her looks were coy and froward eke her graceE
Unto the which this gentle beast gan him advance apaceE
And with a beck full low he bowed at her feetF
In humble wise as who would say 'I am too far unmeet 'G
But such a scornful chere wherewith she him rewardedH
Was never seen I trow the like to such as well deservedI
With that she start aside well near a foot or twainB
And unto him thus gan she say with spite and great disdainB
'Lion ' she said 'if thou hadst known my mind beforeJ
Thou hadst not spent thy travail thus nor all thy pain for loreJ
Do way I let thee weet thou shalt not play with meC
Go range about where thou mayst find some meeter fere for thee 'G
With that he beat his tail his eyes began to flameK
I might perceive his noble heart much moved by the sameK
Yet saw I him refrain and eke his wrath assuageL
And unto her thus gan he say when he was past his rageL
' Cruel you do me wrong to set me thus so lightM
Without desert for my good will to shew me such despiteM
How can ye thus intreat a Lion of the raceE
That with his paws a crowned king devoured in the placeE
Whose nature is to prey upon no simple foodN
As long as he may suck the flesh and drink of noble bloodO
If you be fair and fresh am I not of your hueP
And for my vaunt I dare well say my blood is not untrueP
For you yourself have heard it is not long agoD
Sith that for love one of the race did end his life in woeD
In tower both strong and high for his assured truthQ
Whereas in tears he spent his breath alas the more the ruthQ
This gentle beast so died whom nothing could removeR
But willingly to lese his life for loss of his true loveS
Other there be whose lives do linger still in painB
Against their will preserved are that would have died fainB
But now I do perceive that nought it moveth youP
My good intent my gentle heart nor yet my kind so trueP
But that your will is such to lure me to the tradeT
As other some full many years trace by the craft ye madeT
And thus behold my kinds how that we differ farU
I seek my foes and you your friends do threaten still with warJ
I fawn where I am fled you slay that seeks to youP
I can devour no yielding prey you kill where you subdueP
My kind is to desire the honour of the fieldV
And you with blood to slake your thirst on such as to you yieldV
Wherefore I would you wist that for your coyed looksW
I am no man that will be trapp'd nor tangled with such hooksW
And though some lust to love where blame full well they mightM
And to such beasts of current sought that should have travail brightM
I will observe the law that Nature gave to meC
To conquer such as will resist and let the rest go freeC
And as a falcon free that soareth in the airX
Which never fed on hand nor lure nor for no stale doth careX
While that I live and breathe such shall my custom beC
In wildness of the woods to seek my prey where pleaseth meC
Where many one shall rue that never made offenceW
Thus your refuse against my power shall boot them no defenceW
And for revenge thereof I vow and swear theretoM
A thousand spoils I shall commit I never thought to doM
And if to light on you my luck so good shall beC
I shall be glad to feed on that that would have fed on meC
And thus farewell Unkind to whom I bent and bowY
I would you wist the ship is safe that bare his sails so lowD
Sith that a Lion's heart is for a Wolf no preyZ
With bloody mouth go slake your thirst on simple sheep I sayZ
With more despite and ire than I can now expressW
Which to my pain though I refrain the cause you may well guessW
As for because myself was author of the gameK
It boots me not that for my wrath I should disturb the sameK

Henry Howard



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