by John Donne (1572 - 1631)
Negative love
Language: English
I never stoop'd so low, as they Which on an eye, cheek, lip, can prey; Seldom to them which soar no higher Than virtue, or the mind to admire. For sense and understanding may Know what gives fuel to their fire; My love, though silly, is more brave; For may I miss, whene'er I crave, If I know yet what I would have. If that be simply perfectest, Which can by no way be express'd But negatives, my love is so. To all, which all love, I say no. If any who deciphers best, What we know not -- ourselves -- can know, Let him teach me that nothing. This As yet my ease and comfort is, Though I speed not, I cannot miss.
Authorship:
- by John Donne (1572 - 1631), "Negative love" [author's text checked 1 time 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 John Coolidge Adams (b. 1947), "Negative love", 1980-1, first performed 1981 [chorus and orchestra], from Harmonium, no. 1. [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-09-18
Line count: 18
Word count: 122