Selected Poems

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, was born into one of the great noble families of England in 1517, the eldest son of Thomas Howard, who became the third Duke of Norfolk in 1524.In 1530, at the age of thirteen, Surrey was sent to be educated with the Duke of Richmond (the illegitimate son of Henry VIII) at Windsor, and first came to the notice of the king.In 1532 he was contracted in marriage to the daughter of the Earl of Oxford, and accompanied the king and Anne Boleyn (Surrey's cousin) to the French court, remaining there for a year with Richmond as security for a treaty signed by the two kings.In 1533 Anne Boleyn's coronation took place, and Richmond married Surrey's sister, establishing the Howards as the most influential family in the country.Their fortune declined dramatically in 1536 when Anne Boleyn was tried and condemned for adultery and the Duke of Richmond died.Although he family later regained favour, Surrey was imprisoned on a number of occasions as court allegiances shifted.He distinguished himself as a military leader against the French, and was appointed the king's Lieutenant General in 1545.In 1546 the king became seriously ill, and in the atmosphere of intrigue over the succession, Surrey was arrested on charges of claiming a right to the crown.His father confessed to high treason in concealing his son's treachery, and on 19 January 1547 Surrey was executed. Dennis Keene was born in London in 1934 and lived for many years in Tokyo,where he was Professor of English Literature. He has published translations of modern Japanese literature and two volumes of poetry, Surviving (1980) and Universe (1984). He now lives in Oxford.

• Table of ContentsIntroductionTextual and bibliographical noteVirgil's AeneidBook II, lines 1-73Book II, lines 295-462Book II, lines 966-1068Book IV, lines 1-108Book IV, lines 359-518Book IV, lines 780-884From the ItalianThe soote season, that bud and bloom forth bringsSet me where as the sun doth parch the greenLove that doth reign and live within my thoughtIn Cyprus springs, where as dame Venus dweltI never saw you, madam, lay apartAlas, so all things do hold their peaceThe golden gift that nature did thee giveThe sun hath twice brought forth the tender greenSuch wayward ways hath love that most part in discordPoemsGive place, ye lovers, here beforeWhen Windsor walls sustained my wearied armSo cruel a prison how betide, alasFrom Tuscan came my lady's worthy raceThough I regarded notWrapped in my careless cloak, as I walk to and froGirt in my guiltless gown, as I sit here and sewEach beast can choose his fere according to his mindWyatt resteth here, that quick could never restDiverse thy death do diversely bemoanThe great Macedon that out of Persia chasedTh'Assyrians' king, in peace with foul desireLondon, hast thou accused meLaid in my quiet bed, in study as I wereMartial, the things for to attainSince fortune's wrath envieth the wealthWhen raging love with extreme painGood ladies, you that have your pleasure in exileO happy dames, that may embraceThe fancy which that I have served longNorfolk sprang thee, Lambeth holds thee deadLAST POEMSEcclesiastes, Chapter TwoEcclesiastes, Chapter ThreeWhen reckless youth in quiet breastPsalm Eighty EightThe sudden storms that heave me to and froPsalm Seventy ThreePsalm Fifty FiveThe storms are past, these clouds are overblownNotes