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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  449. Tell me, my Heart, if this be Love

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

George Lyttelton, Lord Lyttelton. 1709–1773

449. Tell me, my Heart, if this be Love

WHEN Delia on the plain appears, 
Awed by a thousand tender fears 
I would approach, but dare not move: 
Tell me, my heart, if this be love? 
 
Whene’er she speaks, my ravish’d ear         5
No other voice than hers can hear, 
No other wit but hers approve: 
Tell me, my heart, if this be love? 
 
If she some other youth commend, 
Though I was once his fondest friend,  10
His instant enemy I prove: 
Tell me, my heart, if this be love? 
 
When she is absent, I no more 
Delight in all that pleased before— 
The clearest spring, or shadiest grove:  15
Tell me, my heart, if this be love? 
 
When fond of power, of beauty vain, 
Her nets she spread for every swain, 
I strove to hate, but vainly strove: 
Tell me, my heart, if this be love?  20