by Catharine Barnard-Smith, (flourished c1868)
"Love me," she said
Language: English
"Love me," she said, "not only for to-day, Or for tomorrow, or for years to come, But ever and for ever, and alway Let my heart find within thy heart its home, And not one passing cloud or shadow be, Beloved one, between thy soul and me." "Love me," she said, "at rise and fall of day; Love me in summer most, and most in spring; Love me in every simple word I say, And place around my path a magic ring Of sweetness and protection, full and free, All rising from thy tender love for me." "Love me," she said, "and let me hear the sound Speak by a thousand voices to mine heart; Let it be breathed above, beneath, around, And everlasting music thence impart — The same old strain, through endless ages true, For ever wonderful — for ever new." "Love me," she said, "for I may often fail In judgment, and in daily needs and power; But if thou lovest me, it will avail To smooth each rising wave from hour to hour; And whatsoe'er short comings there may be, Think of this always — that thou lovest me." "Love me," she said, "for time and change unmoved May tell again the tale so often told; But Love can see no change in the beloved, And I would wear the charm a thousandfold, And for thy sight and sake alone possess Abiding bloom, and youth, and loveliness." "Love me," she said, "for we shall love in Heaven, And even here by daily steps we reach To the full measure, which will then be given— To that pure joy, too great for our poor speech To utter now — but what through Love we know Shall be our portion — Love me even so."
R. Ascham sets stanzas 1-2, 4
Authorship:
- by Catharine Barnard-Smith, (flourished c1868), ""Love me," she said" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Roger Ascham (1864 - 1934), ""Love me," she said", op. 22 (Twelve Songs with Pianoforte Accompaniment) no. 1 (1882-1899), published c1910, stanzas 1-2,4 [ voice and piano ], London, Charles Vincent [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2020-12-25
Line count: 36
Word count: 297