by Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton (1803 - 1873)
I love thee, I love thee
Language: English
I love thee, I love thee; In vain I endeavour To fly from thine image; It haunts me for ever. All things that rejoiced me Now weary and pall; I feel in thine absence Bereft of mine all. My heart is the dial; Thy looks are the sun; I count but the moments Thou shinest upon. Oh royal, believe me, It is to controul [sic] Two mighty dominions, The Heart and the Soul. To know that thy whisper Each pang can beguile; And feel that creation Is lit by thy smile. Yet every dominion Needs care to retain -- Dost thou know when thou pain'st me Or smile at the pain? Alas the heart-sickness The doubt and the dread, When some word that we pine for Cold lips have not said! When no pulses respond to The feelings we prove; And we tremble to question 'If this can be love;' At moments comparing Thy heart with mine own, I mourn not my bondage, I sigh for thy throne. For if thou forsake me Too well I divine That no love could defend thee From sorrow like mine. And this, Oh ungrateful, I most should deplore-- That heart thou hadst broken Could shield thee no more!
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with The Poetical and Dramatic Works of Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, Bart., Vol. III, London: Chapman and Hall, 1853, pages 223-225.Authorship:
- by Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton (1803 - 1873), "The loyalty of 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 Frances Allitsen (1848 - 1912), "The loyalty of love", published 1904 [ voice and piano ], London and New York: Boosey & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
- by ?, Mrs. Harding Cox , "Love's dial", published 1891? [ voice and piano ], London : Metzler [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2012-10-22
Line count: 44
Word count: 204