Love

To plead my faith, where faith hath no reward

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

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 admired,
I was refused of her that can love none,
And my vain hopes which far too high aspired
Is dead and buried and for ever gone.

Forget my name since you have scorned my love,
And woman-like 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 loved I not more than I now despair.

✦ ✦ ✦

From Robert Dowland's Musical Banquet, 1610. Bullen's heading: the lines are assigned to Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex.

MLA

Anonymous (Elizabethan songs). “To plead my faith, where faith hath no reward.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-elizabethan-songs/151/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Elizabethan songs). “To plead my faith, where faith hath no reward.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-elizabethan-songs/151/.

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