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by Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex (1566 - 1601)

To plead my faith
Language: English 
To plead my faith, where faith hath no reward; 
to move remorse, where favour is not borne;
to heap complaints, where she doth not regard, 
were fruitless, bootless, vain and yield but scorn.
 
I loved her whom all the world admir'd.
I was refus'd of her that can love none; 
and my vain hope, which far too high aspir'd,
is dead and buried and for ever gone. 

Forget my name, since you have scorn'd my love, 
and womanlike do not too late lament; 
since for your sake I do all mischief prove,
I none accuse nor nothing do repent. 
I was as fond as ever she was fair, 
yet lov'd I not more than I now despair.

Text Authorship:

  • by Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex (1566 - 1601) [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 Daniel Bachelar (c1574 - ?), "To plead my faith", published 1610, from the collection Robert Dowland's Musical Banquet [
     text verified 1 time
    ]

Researcher for this page: John Versmoren

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 117

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