| Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922. | | | | My Loves | | By John Stuart Blackie (1809–1895) |
| | | NAME the leaves on all the trees, | |
| Name the waves on all the seas, | |
| Name the notes of all the groves, | |
| Thus thou namest all my loves. | |
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| I do love the young, the old, | 5 |
| Maiden modest, virgin bold; | |
| Tiny beauties and the tall— | |
| Earth has room enough for all! | |
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| Which is better—who can say?— | |
| Mary grave or Lucy gay? | 10 |
| She who half her charms conceals, | |
| She who flashes while she feels? | |
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| Why should I my love confine? | |
| Why should fair be mine or thine? | |
| If I praise a tulip, why | 15 |
| Should I pass the primrose by? | |
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| Paris was a pedant fool | |
| Meting beauty by the rule: | |
| Pallas? Juno? Venus?—he | |
| Should have chosen all the three! | 20 | | | |
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