Classic Poem

CII

[Argument:] Most wretched heart, most miserable,
Since the comfort is from thee fled,
Since all the truth is turned to fable,
Most wretched heart, why art thou not dead?

[Reply:] No, no, I live and must do still
Whereof I thank God and no moe,
For I myself have at my will
And he is wretched that weens him so.

[Argument:] But yet thou hast both had and lost
The hope so long that hath thee fed,
And all thy travail and thy cost.
Most wretched heart, why art thou not dead?

[Reply:] Some other hope must feed me new.
If I have lost, I say ‘What though?’
Despair shall not through it ensue
For he is wretched that weens him so.

[Argument:] The sun, the moon doth frown on thee.
Thou hast darkness in daylight's stead.
As good in grave as so to be.
Most wretched heart, why art thou not dead?

[Reply:] Some pleasant star may show me light.
But though the heaven would work me woe,
Who hath himself shall stand upright
And he is wretched that weens him so.

[Argument:] Hath he himself that is not sure?
His trust is like as he hath sped.
Against the stream thou mayst not dure.
Most wretched heart, why art thou not dead?

[Reply:] The last is worst. Who fears not that,
He hath himself whereso he go.
And he that knoweth what is what
Saith he is wretched that weens him so.

[Argument:] Seest thou not how they whet their teeth
Which to touch thee sometime did dread?
They find comfort for thy mischief.
Most wretched heart, why art thou not dead?

[Reply:] What though that curs do fall by kind
On him that hath the overthrow?
All that cannot oppress my mind
For he is wretched that weens him so.

[Argument:] Yet can it not be then denied.
It is as certain as thy creed.
Thy great unhap thou canst not hide.
Unhappy then, why art thou not dead?

[Reply:] Unhappy, but no wretch therefore,
For hap doth come again and go;
For which I keep myself in store
Since unhap cannot kill me so.