Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | VII. Love’s Power | | “Were I as base as is the lowly plain” | | Joshua Sylvester (1563–1618) |
| | | WERE I as base as is the lowly plain, | |
| And you, my Love, as high as heaven above, | |
| Yet should the thoughts of me your humble swain | |
| Ascend to heaven, in honor of my Love. | |
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| Were I as high as heaven above the plain, | 5 |
| And you, my Love, as humble and as low | |
| As are the deepest bottoms of the main, | |
| Wheresoe’er you were, with you my love should go. | |
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| Were you the earth, dear Love, and I the skies, | |
| My love should shine on you like to the sun, | 10 |
| And look upon you with ten thousand eyes | |
| Till heaven waxed blind, and till the world were done. | |
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| Wheresoe’er I am, below, or else above you, | |
| Wheresoe’er you are, my heart shall truly love you. | | | | |
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