by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Sweet Love, my only treasure
Language: English
Sweet Love, my only treasure, For service long unfeignèd Wherein I nought have gainèd, Vouchsafe this little pleasure, To tell me in what part My Lady keeps her heart. If in her hair so slender, Like golden nets entwinèd Which fire and art have finèd, Her thrall my heart I render For ever to abide With locks so dainty tied. If in her eyes she bind it, Wherein that fire was framèd By which it is inflamèd, I dare not look to find it: I only wish it sight To see that pleasant light. But if her breast have deignèd With kindness to receive it, I am content to leave it Though death thereby were gainèd: Then, Lady, take your own That lives by you alone.
Lyrics from the Song-Books of the Elizabethan Age, ed. by A. H. Bullen, London, John C. Nimmo, 1887, pages 114-115.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Robert Jones (fl. 1597-1615), "Sweet Love, my only treasure", published 1608, from the collection Ultimum Vale, or the Third Booke of Ayres [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2014-02-25
Line count: 24
Word count: 126