by Robert Browning (1812 - 1889)
Dearest, three months ago, when we loved each other so See original
Language: English
... XII. Dearest, three months ago When we loved each other so, Lived and loved the same Till an evening came When a shaft from the devil's bow Pierced to our ingle-glow, And the friends were friend and foe! XIII. Not from the heart beneath--- 'Twas a bubble born of breath, Neither sneer nor vaunt, Nor reproach nor taunt. See a word, how it severeth! Oh, power of life and death In the tongue, as the Preacher saith! XIV. Woman, and will you cast For a word, quite off at last Me, your own, your You,--- Since, as truth is true, I was You all the happy past--- Me do you leave aghast With the memories We amassed? ... XVI. What of a hasty word? Is the fleshly heart not stirred By a worm's pin-prick Where its roots are quick? See the eye, by a fly's foot blurred--- Ear, when a straw is heard Scratch the brain's coat of curd! XVII. Foul be the world or fair More or less, how can I care? 'Tis the world the same For my praise or blame, And endurance is easy there. Wrong in the one thing rare--- Oh, it is hard to bear! ...
Composition:
- Set to music by Douglas Gordon Weiland (b. 1954), "Dearest, three months ago, when we loved each other so", op. 10 (Five First Songs), stanzas 12-14,16-17 [ soprano and piano ]
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Browning (1812 - 1889), "A lovers' quarrel", appears in Men and Women, first published 1855
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-10-24
Line count: 176
Word count: 868