| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 12501900. |
| |
| Anonymous. 1605 |
| |
68. Devotion
Captain Tobias Hume's The First Part of Airs, &c. |
| |
| FAIN would I change that note | |
| To which fond Love hath charm'd me | |
| Long, long to sing by rote, | |
| Fancying that that harm'd me: | |
| Yet when this thought doth come, | 5 |
| 'Love is the perfect sum | |
| Of all delight,' | |
| I have no other choice | |
| Either for pen or voice | |
| To sing or write. | 10 |
| |
| O Love! they wrong thee much | |
| That say thy sweet is bitter, | |
| When thy rich fruit is such | |
| As nothing can be sweeter. | |
| Fair house of joy and bliss, | 15 |
| Where truest pleasure is, | |
| I do adore thee: | |
| I know thee what thou art, | |
| I serve thee with my heart, | |
| And fall before thee. | 20 |
|
|