Sir Thomas Wyatt, once again, uses Petrarch; this time it is sonnet 81. He wrote thirty-two sonnets in this form, and its hardly surprising that they have become known as the Petrarchan sonnets. To some readers his experimental verse sounds awkward and strained, but his innovation and, at the time, ground-breaking development of the form was experimental and brave.
The sonnet in its ‘modern’ form became popular eight hundred years ago in Italy; later Dante and Petrarch became the most famous and influential poets, giving giving generations of ‘sonneteers’ to interpret the form in their own way in every language imaginable.
Cæser when th’ honourable head did him present,
Covering his heart’s gladness, did repre-
sent
Plaint with his tears outward, as it is writ.
And Hanniball, eke, when fortune him shit
Clean from his reign, and from all his intent,
Laugh’d to his folk, whom sorrow did torment ;
His cruel despite for to disgorge and quit.
So chanceth me, that every passion
The mind hideth by colour contrary,
With feigned visage, now sad, now merry ;
Whereby if that I laugh at any season,
It is because I have none other way
To cloke my care, but under sport and play.
Lois Elsden 