Charles Stuart Calverley (1831-1884)
Love
1Canst thou love me, lady?
2 I've not learn'd to woo:
3Thou art on the shady
4 Side of sixty too.
5Still I love thee dearly!
6 Thou hast lands and pelf:
7But I love thee merely
8 Merely for thyself.
9Wilt thou love me, fairest?
10 Though thou art not fair;
11And I think thou wearest
12 Someone-else's hair.
13Thou could'st love, though, dearly:
14 And, as I am told,
15Thou art very nearly
16 Worth thy weight, in gold.
17Dost thou love me, sweet love?
18 Tell me that thou dost!
19Women fairly beat one,
20 But I think thou must.
21Thou art loved so dearly:
22 I am plain, but then
23Thou (to speak sincerely)
24 Art as plain again.
25Love me, bashful fairy!
26 I've an empty purse:
27And I've "moods," which vary;
28 Mostly for the worse.
29Still, I love thee dearly:
30 Though I make (I feel)
31Love a little queerly,
32 I'm as true as steel.
33Love me, swear to love me
34 (As, you know, they do)
35By yon heaven above me
36 And its changeless blue.
37Love me, lady, dearly,
38 If you'll be so good;
39Though I don't see clearly
40 On what ground you should.
41Love me -- ah or love me
42 Not, but be my bride!
43Do not simply shove me
44 (So to speak) aside!
45P'raps it would be dearly
46 Purchased at the price;
47But a hundred yearly
48 Would be very nice.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: Charles Stuart Calverley. Fly Leaves (Cambridge: Deighton, Bell, 1890): 74-77. PR 4409 C2F5 1890 Robarts Library.
First publication date:
1872
RPO poem editor: Ian Lancashire
RP edition: RPO 1998.
Recent editing: 2:2002/5/9
Rhyme: ababcdcd
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