They Flee From Me for The Long Public Life of a Short Private Poem

They flee from me, that sometime did me seek

With naked foot stalking in my chamber.

I have seen them gentle, tame and meek,

That now are wild and do not remember

That sometime they put themself in danger

To take bread at my hand; and now they range,

Busily seeking with a continual change.

Thanked be fortune it hath been otherwise

Twenty times better, but once in special,

In thin array after a pleasant guise

When her loose gown from her shoulders did fall,

And she me caught in her arms long and small,

Therewithall sweetly did me kiss

And softly said dear heart, how like you this?

It was no dream: I lay broad waking.

But all is turned thorough my gentleness

Into a strange fashion of forsaking

And I have leave to go of her goodness,

And she also, to use newfangleness.

But since that I so kindly am served

I would fain know what she hath deserved.