WITHIN the forest of sad wearinesse One daye uncompanied I chanced to wend, And therin did encounter love's Goddésse Who made me question of my journey's end. To whom I told howe Fortune did me rend And drive awaye into the woodland close, That not miscalled a man maye be, soe penned, A man astraye that knowes not where he goes. She, smilynge in her soe great kindlinesse, Made answer to me, "Did I knowe, deare friend, Wherfor thou farest in soe sore distresse, Myne aid to thee I willyngly would lend; Since, long agoe I did thy heart intend For pleasant wayes, whom malice misbestowes, And much it grieveth me to see thee wend, A man astraye that knowes not where he goes." "Alas!" said I, "O sovereign princesse, Hear thou my plight and hearken to the end: 'Tis Death hath done me this dire hurtfulnesse, And taken from me my belovéd friend In whom my hope was; she who did attend To guide me, in my farynge ever close; Whose like nowe is not, wherfor I doe wend A man astraye that knowes not where he goes. "Syghtlesse, I goe a journey without end; And, lest that I should stumble I doe send My staff before me with unsteady blowes. And pitiful it is that I must wend, A man astraye that knowes not where he goes." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE THANKSGIVING IN BOSTON HARBOR [JUNE 12, 1630] by HEZEKIAH BUTTERWORTH THE WAYS OF TIME by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES SONNET: 16 by RICHARD BARNFIELD A CHILD'S GRACE by ROBERT BURNS THE HOME-RETURNING by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON EPIGRAM ON THE BRAZIERS' COMPANY HAVING RESOLVED by GEORGE GORDON BYRON COURAGE REGAINED by BERTHA TODD CAMPBELL |