Blame not my lute by Thomas Wyatt

Poetic Defense Mechanism

Wyatt uses the lute as a metaphorical shield. The instrument becomes a proxy for speaking uncomfortable truths.

Blame not my lute, for he must sound

Of this or that as liketh me:

For lack of wit the lute is bound

To give such tunes as pleaseth me.

Though my songs be somewhat strange,

Court Poetry Strategy

Coded language allows critique without direct accusation. 'Strange' songs hint at political/romantic tension.

And speaks such words as touch thy change,

Rhetorical Deflection

Repeated refrain shifts blame from poet to subject. Classic Renaissance rhetorical move of plausible deniability.

Blame not my lute.

My lute, alas, doth not offend,

Though that perforce he must agree

To sound such tunes as I intend

To sing to them that heareth me.

Then though my songs he somewhat plain,

And toucheth some that use to feign,

Blame not my lute.

Rhetorical Deflection

Repeated refrain shifts blame from poet to subject. Classic Renaissance rhetorical move of plausible deniability.

My lute and strings may not deny,

But as I strike they must obey:

Break not them then so wrongfully,

But wreak thyself some wiser way.

And though the songs which I indite

Do quit thy change with rightful spite,

Rhetorical Deflection

Repeated refrain shifts blame from poet to subject. Classic Renaissance rhetorical move of plausible deniability.

Blame not my lute.

Spite asketh spite, and changing change,

And falsèd faith must needs be known;

The fault so great, the case so strange,

Of right it must abroad be blown.

Then since that by thine own desert

My songs do tell how true thou art,

Blame not my lute.

Rhetorical Deflection

Repeated refrain shifts blame from poet to subject. Classic Renaissance rhetorical move of plausible deniability.

Blame but thyself, that hast misdone

And well deservèd to have blame;

Change thou thy way so evil begun,

And then my lute shall sound that same.

But if till then my fingers play

By thy desert their wonted way,

Rhetorical Deflection

Repeated refrain shifts blame from poet to subject. Classic Renaissance rhetorical move of plausible deniability.

Blame not my lute.

Farewell, unknown, for though thou break

My strings in spite with great disdain,

Yet have I found out for thy sake

Performative Vulnerability

The broken strings suggest emotional damage, but also resilience. Poet will always find new ways to speak.

Strings for to string my lute again.

And if perchance this foolish rhyme

Do make thee blush at any time,

Rhetorical Deflection

Repeated refrain shifts blame from poet to subject. Classic Renaissance rhetorical move of plausible deniability.

Blame not my lute.