by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Once did I love
Language: English
Once did I love, and yet I live Though love and truth be now forgotten. Then did I joy, now do I grieve That holy vows must needs be broken. Hers be the blame that caused it so; Mine be the grief though it be little. She shall have shame, I cause, to know What 'tis to love a dame so fickle. Love her that list! I am content, For that chameleon like she changeth, Yielding such mists as may prevent My sight to view her when she rangeth. Let him not vaunt that gains my loss, For when that he and Time hath proved her, She may him bring to weeping cross. I say no more, because I loved her.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked 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 Robert Jones (fl. 1597-1615), "Once did I love", published 1601, from the collection First Book of Airs, no. 4. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2014-02-23
Line count: 16
Word count: 121