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by George, Lord Lyttelton (1709 - 1773)

When Delia on the plain appears
Language: English 
When Delia on the plain appears,
Aw'd by a thousand tender fears,
I would approach, but dare not move:
Tell me, my heart, if this be love?

Whene'er she speaks, my ravish'd ear
No other voice but her's can hear,
No other wit but her's approve:
Tell me, my heart, if this be love?

If she some other youth commend,
Though I was once his fondest friend,
His instant enemy I prove:
Tell me, my heart, if this be love?

When she is absent, I no more
Delight in all that pleas'd before,
The clearest spring, or shadiest grove:
Tell me, my heart, if this be love?

When, fond of power, of beauty vain,
Her nets she spread for every swain,
I strove to hate, but vainly strove:
Tell me, my heart, if this be love?

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with The Poetical Works of George, Lord Lyttelton, London: Printed for Cadell and Davies, etc., 1801, pages 63-64.

Text Authorship:

  • by George, Lord Lyttelton (1709 - 1773), "Song", written 1732 [author's text checked 1 time 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 Maude Valérie White (1855 - 1937), "When Delia on the plain appears", published 1880 [ voice and piano ], London, Stanley Lucas, Weber & Co. [sung text not yet checked]

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2013-05-30
Line count: 20
Word count: 136

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