Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
James Graham, Marquis of Montrose. 16121650334. I’ll never love Thee more
MY dear and only Love, I pray | |
That little world of thee | |
Be govern’d by no other sway | |
Than purest monarchy; | |
For if confusion have a part | 5 |
(Which virtuous souls abhor), | |
And hold a synod in thine heart, | |
I’ll never love thee more. | |
Like Alexander I will reign, | |
And I will reign alone; | 10 |
My thoughts did evermore disdain | |
A rival on my throne. | |
He either fears his fate too much, | |
Or his deserts are small, | |
That dares not put it to the touch, | 15 |
To gain or lose it all. | |
And in the empire of thine heart, | |
Where I should solely be, | |
If others do pretend a part | |
Or dare to vie with me, | 20 |
Or if Committees thou erect, | |
And go on such a score, | |
I’ll laugh and sing at thy neglect, | |
And never love thee more. | |
But if thou wilt prove faithful then, | 25 |
And constant of thy word, | |
I’ll make thee glorious by my pen | |
And famous by my sword; | |
I’ll serve thee in such noble ways | |
Was never heard before; | 30 |
I’ll crown and deck thee all with bays, | |
And love thee more and more. |