Whoso List to Hunt
By Thomas Wyatt
Whoso1 list2 to hunt, I know where is an
hind,3
But as for me, hélas,4 I may no more.
The vain travail hath wearied me so sore,
I am of them that farthest cometh behind.
Yet may I by no means my wearied mind
Draw5 from the deer, but as she fleeth
afore6
Fainting I follow. I leave off therefore,
Sithens7 in a net I seek to hold the wind.
Who list her hunt,8 I put him out of doubt,
As well as I may spend his time in vain.
And graven9 with diamonds in letters plain
There is written, her fair neck round about:
Noli me tangere,10 for Caesar's11 I am,
And wild for to hold, though I seem tame.
Notes
1....Whoso: Whosoever, whoever.
2....list: Desires, wishes.
3....hind: female deer and metaphor for Ann Boleyn.
4....hélas (ay LA): Alas in French,
5....Draw: Withdraw.
6....afore: Before.
7....Sithens: Since.
8....Who list her hunt: Who wishes to hunt her. Poets frequently alter word order for effect. For
example, Shakespeare wrote in Macbeth, "Something wicked this way comes." In ordinary
conversation, a person would say, "Something wicked comes this way."
9....graven: Engraved.
10..Noli me tangere: Latin, "Do not touch me," words Jesus spoke to Mary Magdalene (John:
20:17).
11..Caesar's: Henry VIII's.