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.
Two Songs by Algernon Charles Swinburne
Song Cycle by Victor Herbert (1859 - 1924)
1. If love were what the rose is
Language: English
Text Authorship:
- by Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837 - 1909), "A match", appears in Poems and Ballads, first published 1866
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Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Johann Winkler2. Love laid his sleepless head
Language: English
Love laid his sleepless head On a thorny rosebed; 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 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.
Text Authorship:
- by Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837 - 1909), "Song"
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- HUN Hungarian (Magyar) (Dezső Kosztolányi) , "Álmatlan szerelem"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 380