by Robert Herrick (1591 - 1674)
I will confess
Language: English
I will confess With cheerfulness, Love is a thing so likes me, That, let her lay On me all day, I'll kiss the hand that strikes me. I will not, I, Now blubb'ring cry, It, ah! too late repents me That I did fall To love at all-- Since love so much contents me. No, no, I'll be In fetters free; While others they sit wringing Their hands for pain, I'll entertain The wounds of love with singing. With flowers and wine, And cakes divine, To strike me I will tempt thee; Which done, no more I'll come before Thee and thine altars empty.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Robert Herrick (1591 - 1674), "A Hymn to Love" [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 Andre Douw (b. 1951), "Women useless - an hymne to love", 1983, from Herrick Songs, no. 4 [sung text not yet checked]
- by John Linton Gardner (1917 - 2011), "A hymn to love", op. 196 no. 4 (1991) [ SATB chorus a cappella ], from Partsongs to poems by Robert Herrick, no. 4 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Mervyn, Lord Horder, the Second Baron of Ashford (1910 - 1998), "A Hymn to Love" [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2004-05-09
Line count: 24
Word count: 104