Jake Heggie - Women Have Loved Before
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Women have loved before as I love now;
At least, in lively chronicles of the past—
Of Irish waters by a Cornish prow
Or Trojan waters by a Spartan mast
Much to their cost invaded—here and there
Hunting the amorous line, skimming the rest
I find some woman bearing as I bear
Love like a burning city in the breast
I think however that of all alive
I only in such utter, ancient way
Do suffer love; in me alone survive
The unregenerate passions of a day
When treacherous queens, with death upon the tread
Heedless and willful, took their knights to bed
At least, in lively chronicles of the past—
Of Irish waters by a Cornish prow
Or Trojan waters by a Spartan mast
Much to their cost invaded—here and there
Hunting the amorous line, skimming the rest
I find some woman bearing as I bear
Love like a burning city in the breast
I think however that of all alive
I only in such utter, ancient way
Do suffer love; in me alone survive
The unregenerate passions of a day
When treacherous queens, with death upon the tread
Heedless and willful, took their knights to bed
