“I never saw you, madam, lay apart...” by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey Lyrics

Meaning of "“I never saw you, madam, lay apart...”" by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

This poem opens with a direct address, a speaker lamenting a lost connection with "madam." The initial lines establish a sense of enduring devotion, noting that the speaker never saw her "cornet black" change, regardless of the "cold nor yet in heat." This suggests a constant state of mourning or seriousness on her part, which began as soon as she became aware of the speaker's "desire so great." The speaker claims this singular focus on her chased "other fancies clean from my heart," highlighting the depth of his initial affection. The central tension arises from the perceived shift in the "madam's" demeanor once she knew of the speaker's love. The lyrics suggest that her "pity" was visible, but upon learning of his "love and serve," her outward appearance transformed. Her "golden trees" (likely a metaphor for her hair or adornments) were "clad alway in black," and her "smiling looks were hid thus evermore." This transformation actively denied the speaker "all that withdrawn that I did crave so sore," creating a profound sense of unfulfilled longing and disappointment. The most striking craft element is the persistent image of the "cornet black" and the contrast between the speaker's internal state and the "madam's" external presentation. The "cornet black" becomes a governing force, influencing the speaker through "summer sun" and "winter breath of frost," implying a constant, inescapable melancholy. This is further emphasized by the final lines, where the "faire eyes" of the "madam" are the source through which "the light is lost," a poignant image suggesting that her gaze, once perhaps a source of hope, now signifies the extinguishment of his own light or spirit. These lyrics resonate because they capture the painful experience of unrequited or thwarted affection, where a perceived change in the beloved's attitude leads to the speaker's own despair. The poem's effectiveness lies in its specific, almost tactile imagery – the "cornet black," the "golden trees" turned to black – and the clear articulation of how the "madam's" outward sorrow or stoicism directly impacts and "governs" the speaker's emotional landscape, ultimately leading to a profound sense of lost light.