Love

Sweet Love, my only treasure

by Anonymous (Elizabethan songs) c. 1588–1630

From Lyrics from the Song-Books of the Elizabethan Age, ed. A. H. Bullen (London: Nimmo, 1891)

Love

Sweet Love, my only treasure,
For service long unfeigned
Wherein I nought have gained,
Vouchsafe this little pleasure,
To tell me in what part
My Lady keeps her heart.

If in her hair so slender,
Like golden nets entwined
Which fire and art have fined,
Her thrall my heart I render
For ever to abide
With locks so dainty tied.

If in her eyes she bind it,
Wherein that fire was framed
By which it is inflamed,
I dare not look to find it:
I only wish it sight
To see that pleasant light.

But if her breast have deigned
With kindness to receive it,
I am content to leave it
Though death thereby were gained:
Then, Lady, take your own
That lives by you alone.

✦ ✦ ✦

From Robert Jones' Ultimum Vale, or Third Book of Airs (1608).

MLA

Anonymous (Elizabethan songs). “Sweet Love, my only treasure.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-elizabethan-songs/128/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Elizabethan songs). “Sweet Love, my only treasure.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-elizabethan-songs/128/.

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