Two Songs by Algernon Charles Swinburne

Song Cycle by Victor Herbert (1859 - 1924)

1. If love were what the rose is [sung text checked 1 time]

If love were what the rose is,
  And I were like the leaf,
Our lives would grow together
In sad or singing weather,
Blown fields or flowerful closes,
  Green pleasure or grey grief;
If love were what the rose is,
  And I were like the leaf.

[ ... ]

If you were April's lady,
  And I were lord in May,
We 'd throw with leaves for hours
And draw for days with flowers,
Till day like night were shady
  And night were bright like day;
If you were April's lady,
  And I were lord in May.

[ ... ]

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1 Foote: "and"

Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Johann Winkler

2. Love laid his sleepless head [sung text checked 1 time]

Love laid his sleepless head
On a thorny [rosy bed]1;
And his eyes with tears were red,
And pale his lips as the dead.

And fear and sorrow and scorn
Kept watch by his head forlorn,
Till the night was overworn
And the [world]2 was merry with morn.

And Joy came up with the day
And kissed Love's lips as he lay,
And the watchers ghostly and grey
Sped from his pillow away.

And his eyes as the dawn grew bright,
And his lips waxed ruddy as light:
Sorrow may reign for a night,
But day shall bring back delight.

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

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First published in Examiner, December 1874
1 Herbert: "rosebed"
2 Walton: "day"

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 380