Love
‹ 2 · Outline · 4 ›
3.Romantic love: the lover's experience
3a.Courtship and wooing
See also: Family 3b · Beauty 5a
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 138Circe invites Odysseus to her bed so that they may trust each other.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 239Neighboring princes court Lavinia; Turnus favored.read · scan
Plutarch, AntonyVol. 12
- p. 323–324Antony is agreeable in love affairs and gains friends by helping with theirs.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 137He mourns the interruption of their intercourse and agrees to risk his head to be introduced into the palace and win her.read · scan
- p. 152–153The youth, restored by hope of meeting his beloved, dresses and prepares eagerly for the Friday assignation.read · scan
- p. 159The youth goes secretly to the Kadi's house for his beloved.read · scan
- p. 326–327The poet's verses profess enamourment of her.read · scan
- p. 412–413The Princess feigns love to ensnare the Moor, who mistakes her sweetness for sincere passion and is infatuated.read · scan
- p. 414Lovers' cup-exchange custom is invented as a pretext, false tokens of love that lead him to drink the drugged wine.read · scan
The Story of the Volsungs and NiblungsVol. 49
- p. 273Sigrun, promised to Hodbrod, refuses him and asks Helgi to fight for her and carry her off; he pledges his life.read · scan
- p. 308–309Sigurd finds Brynhild, praises her as fairest, vows to win her love with a gold ring token, and kisses her.read · scan
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales; The Nun's Priest's TaleVol. 40
- p. 34She says she cannot love a coward.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 138Gentle attention from a beautiful lady and flirtatious conversation on the ride to Rome give him great enjoyment.read · scan
Nicholas Breton, Phillida and CoridonVol. 40
- p. 196A shepherd woos Phillida; after oaths of truth and kisses, love is concluded and she is made Lady of the May.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 81–82Anthony sings of his love for Olalia, confident of her unspoken affection.read · scan
- p. 82–83Lover complains of a hard-hearted beloved, recounts his services, fine dress, dances and serenades, and hopes for grace.read · scan
- p. 87Many rich youths take shepherd's dress to woo her; Chrysostom made her his idol.read · scan
- p. 129Quixote sighs deeply while gazing at the innkeeper's daughter.read · scan
- p. 332Leonela comically recites an alphabet of lover's virtues for Lothario to reassure Camilla; she admits her own love affair.read · scan
- p. 397She offers herself as wife to a Christian gentleman, wanting a husband and escape.read · scan
- p. 399He promises marriage to the Moorish lady once they reach Christian lands.read · scan
- p. 399–400She insists he be her husband, threatening to ask Marien to chastise him otherwise.read · scan
- p. 431–432The song of a lover as mariner steering by a star; Clara trembles at hearing it, her soul possessed by him.read · scan
- p. 432–433Song praises persistent hope in love; Clara tells how the neighbor's son wooed her by signs and tears.read · scan
- p. 442Clara and Dorothea are anxious over the lover's presence; Clara nearly faints at the news.read · scan
- p. 446Don Louis declares he abandoned home and disguised himself to follow Clara, offering to marry her at once.read · scan
Sir Philip Sidney, The Defense of PoesyVol. 27
- p. 46–47Love poems fail to persuade because writers lack real feeling and forcefulness (energia).read · scan
Henry Constable, DiapheniaVol. 40
- p. 228–229Lover praises Diaphenia and compares his love to lambs for dams, flowers for sun, birds for spring, asking love in return.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, The Passionate Shepherd to His Love; Her ReplyVol. 40
- p. 254–255Shepherd woos with pastoral pleasures; the nymph refuses, doubting love's constancy.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 107Laertes warns Ophelia that Hamlet's love is a fleeting fashion, a violet in youth; she must guard her heart.read · scan
- p. 109Polonius dismisses Hamlet's tenders of affection as not sterling; Ophelia is unsure what to think.read · scan
- p. 109–111He calls Hamlet's vows springes to catch woodcocks, blazes with more light than heat, brokers of unholy suits.read · scan
- p. 126–128Hamlet's love letter to Ophelia asserts certainty of his love though all else may be doubted.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The TempestVol. 46
- p. 413Prospero makes the courtship difficult lest too light winning make the prize light; Miranda pleads for Ferdinand.read · scan
- p. 443–446Masque celebrates a contract of true love, with Venus and Cupid barred for fear of wanton charms.read · scan
Thomas Dekker, The Shoemaker's HolidayVol. 47
- p. 485Hammon woos Rose through hunting puns on deer and heart, and she deflects him wittily.read · scan
- p. 502–503Opening song celebrates springtime courtship and kissing between lovers.read · scan
- p. 510–511Sybil summons Hans to Rose on a pretext of fitting shoes, aiding the lovers.read · scan
Ben Jonson, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 290–291Love's chariot carries the lady; lovers would follow her through swords and seas; a look alone suffices.read · scan
- p. 291–293The lover's rose wreath is transfigured by the beloved's breath; a girl hides her love, torn between pride in sharing and jealous fear.read · scan
Thomas Heywood, Pack, Clouds, AwayVol. 40
- p. 316–317Serenade summoning birds and music to greet the beloved with good-morrow.read · scan
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies A-BleedingVol. 47
- p. 677Arethusa, torn between feigned scorn and longing, doubts Philaster's love and hears of it from her lady before he arrives.read · scan
- p. 684–687Philaster marvels at boys' love for their lords; Pharamond and Galatea trade wit on love and courtship.read · scan
John Webster, The Duchess of MalfiVol. 47
- p. 785–786Delio tries to woo Julia as an old suitor, and she deflects him wittily.read · scan
- p. 838Julia boldly courts Bosola, alleging love-powder, and declares her longing; he banters back with compliments.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 862–866Allworth defends his lawful love for Margaret, likening her to a rose sprung from a briar, despite her father.read · scan
- p. 890–892Allworth confides his love for Margaret; Lovell assures him of loyalty and self-command over his passions.read · scan
- p. 928Lady Allworth defends her favours to Wellborn as gratitude to her husband's friend; Lovell woos her.read · scan
William Drummond, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 330Lover awaits his beloved on a longed-for morning; all is ready save her.read · scan
Robert Herrick, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 334–336Julia's lips as cherry-isle; the mad maid's grief for her dead love; urging maidens to marry.read · scan
- p. 338–339Invitation to Corinna to go a-Maying.read · scan
- p. 340Youth plight troth and kiss on May morning.read · scan
Sir William D'Avenant, Dawn SongVol. 40
- p. 354The lover wakes his mistress, thinking dawn cannot come before she wakes.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 216–220Valere's love is threatened by Orgon's change of plans.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 230–231Brisk courts Mercy, attracted by her looks and industry, but she declines.read · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 39–42Alexas interprets Antony's message as love and urges Cleopatra to press her fortune.read · scan
- p. 43Cleopatra sends sighs, tears and a bracelet to sway Antony; Ventidius is loyal to the wronged Octavia.read · scan
- p. 43Ventidius warns Cleopatra's gifts are poisoned; Antony treasures the bracelet as memories of her embraces.read · scan
Matthew Prior, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 396–398Prior's playful verses on courting a five-year-old girl, dissembled passion for Cloe, and the mismatch of ages in love.read · scan
Sir Richard Steele, The Spectator ClubVol. 27
- p. 86His conversation and knowledge concern gallantry and women he has courted.read · scan
Henry Carey, Sally in Our AlleyVol. 40
- p. 403–405An apprentice adores Sally, enduring beatings and mockery, and plans to marry her after his seven years.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 36Franklin courts Miss Read with respect and affection.read · scan
Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to ConquerVol. 18
- p. 209–210Kate weighs a suitor's traits, fears reserve, and resolves to seek another admirer rather than break her heart.read · scan
- p. 223–224Hastings meets his beloved Constance Neville unexpectedly and plans elopement.read · scan
- p. 225–227Courtship begins as Hastings introduces the pair; Miss Hardcastle plays along with his modesty.read · scan
- p. 227–228Awkward courtship: Marlow stammers, claims to have studied only to deserve the ladies.read · scan
- p. 228–229Miss Hardcastle is drawn to the bashful Marlow and wishes to teach him confidence.read · scan
- p. 240–241Miss Hardcastle, disguised as a bar-maid, schemes to win Marlow's attention and test him, while he is smitten by her looks.read · scan
- p. 241–242Marlow, mistaking Miss Hardcastle for a barmaid, boldly flirts and tries to kiss her while boasting of his success with women.read · scan
- p. 242–243Marlow importunes the supposed barmaid with flattery ('my angel') while the courtship of Kate hangs on his hidden modesty.read · scan
- p. 243–244Hastings and Constance Neville plan their elopement, while Marlow is fixed on the barmaid.read · scan
- p. 244–246Marlow boasts he has conquered the lovely barmaid and that she is his.read · scan
- p. 249–250Marlow is moved by the supposed poor girl's tears and feels affection but leaves, while she admires his generosity.read · scan
- p. 250–251Kate resolves to detain Marlow, whose merit she now sees, while Tony and Miss Neville feign fondness to hide their elopement.read · scan
- p. 253–254Hastings waits with a post-chaise for Miss Neville; the guardian aunt thwarts the lovers.read · scan
- p. 258–259Kate describes Marlow's courtship of professed admirers, with civil speeches and pretended rapture.read · scan
- p. 266–267Marlow kneels professing that his happiness lies in Kate's power, while she refuses to exploit a transient passion.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 374Franziska proposes to Werner, who accepts; comic parallel to the main lovers' match.read · scan
Robert Graham of Gartmore, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 531–532A suitor asks how to woo his lady, offering deeds, service, song and faithful devotion.read · scan
Isobel Pagan, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 556Shepherd lad courts a girl and pledges she shall be his dearie till death.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 41–42Girls seek future lovers by charms, and soldiers vow to conquer haughty damsels.read · scan
- p. 113–115Mephistopheles counsels the slower pleasures and fooleries of courtship, contrasted with Faust's rush to enjoyment.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hermann and DorotheaVol. 19
- p. 348–349Their meeting among the ruins, his carrying her from the hot rubble, begins the courtship.read · scan
- p. 387–389Hermann cannot speak of love before her clear, understanding gaze and instead explains he came for her sake.read · scan
- p. 390–391Hermann hides his love, sees her ring, and feels tender longing at the fountain.read · scan
- p. 392–394Relatives whisper that if she finds a lover in the master she will be well cared for.read · scan
- p. 396–397Hermann, amorous, dares not declare his love, fearing refusal and troubled by her ring.read · scan
- p. 397–399Hermann catches the stumbling Dorothea and bears her close, restraining desire by force of will.read · scan
- p. 401–402Hermann trembles, secretly wishing to win the maiden as wife rather than servant.read · scan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for ScandalVol. 18
- p. 137–138Joseph presses his suit on Maria, who loves Charles; he also flirts with Lady Teazle as a fashionable Platonic cicisbeo.read · scan
- p. 150–152Toasting beauties, Charles calls wine the test of a lover's heart and toasts Maria.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 27–28Farewell to a coy lass who delays marriage, and a comparison of a lassie's charms to natural things.read · scan
- p. 48–50Findlay's playful courtship at the bower door; love brings ruin to those who love.read · scan
- p. 100–102Lads and lasses make assignations and observations; wives urged to remember when they wanted lads.read · scan
- p. 110–112Lads and lasses flirt and pair up in the courting sport, hearts startled.read · scan
- p. 112–114Couples' nuts burning together or leaping apart foretell courtship; Nell and Rob kiss, Merran thinks of Andrew.read · scan
- p. 128–130Rival tinker and fiddler court a woman who yields partly from love, partly from drink; bawdy tavern romance.read · scan
- p. 226–228Verse epistle wooing a lass for Willie Chalmers; the feeling heart is what counts.read · scan
- p. 256–258A harvest partner kindled his song, but he was too bashful to speak.read · scan
- p. 341–343Songs of courtship and devotion: Willie and Nelly, Jockie's beloved, the girl giving her heart in pledge.read · scan
- p. 344–345Sandy's token and tears; the suitor's plea to Tibbie Dunbar; John Anderson's lifelong marital devotion.read · scan
- p. 354–356Shepherd lad courts his dearie by the water-side with promises of gowns and ribbons.read · scan
- p. 360–362Courtship of a bonnie lass; a lover's ribbon token to Myra; love of the Highlands.read · scan
- p. 406–407Love ventures where wisdom has been; a lover gathers a posie of flowers for his dear Mayread · scan
- p. 443–445Lover braves dark glens to meet his dearie; a husband treasures his wife and shares life's cares; grief for dead Highland Mary.read · scan
- p. 465–467Robie's proposal and Jeanie's blushing consent; Phillis song of a lover's devotion.read · scan
- p. 488–491Charlie's wooing of the bonnie lass Jenny; the woman's love for her lost Donald.read · scan
- p. 503–506Shepherd's true love for his lass, and Chloe and the Dearie wooed among flowers; hearts truer than courtiers'.read · scan
- p. 516–518Wooers' pleas and rebuffs; a lover pleads at the door while the lass refuses, warning of men's faithlessness.read · scan
- p. 530–532Lover woos the woodlark's plaintive song and pleads to spare Chloris on her sickbed.read · scan
- p. 549–552Toasts and vows to Jessie: her hand outweighs any sight; a lover pleads she be his own, despairing hope.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 423–426Melchthal would use a sweetheart in the garrison to gain a ladder.read · scan
- p. 432Rudenz pleads his love for Bertha; she makes love conditional on his loyalty to his people.read · scan
William Wordsworth, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 608–610The youth woos Ruth with tales of a happy life in the wilderness; she agrees to go with him.read · scan
Charles Lamb, On the Tragedies of ShakspereVol. 27
- p. 312–313The innocent courtship of Ferdinand and Miranda, coarsened by Dryden's additions.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 60King's great love justifies his deception; princess is comforted and consents to be his wiferead · scan
- p. 67–68The prince's heart is stirred by Rapunzel's singing; he wooes her and she accepts, expecting more love than the enchantress gave.read · scan
George Gordon, Lord Byron, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 794–796Maid of Athens lover's vow and plea for his heart; sibling love unbroken.read · scan
- p. 796Maid of Athens: he cannot cease loving her though he flies away.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 827–829Lover's fear and devotion to a maiden; dreams of the beloved, fainting and dying for her kisses.read · scan
- p. 842–843Nosegay meant for a beloved; the fair day is likened to the loved one who cheers those in sorrow.read · scan
John Keats, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 883–884Madeline's heart broods on love and St. Agnes' lore amid the revelry.read · scan
- p. 886–887Porphyro pleads with Angela and swears by tears to do Madeline no harm in his love.read · scan
- p. 887–888Angela, moved by Porphyro's sorrowing, helps him hide in Madeline's chamber hoping to win her as bride.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 230–231The Prince courts the Emperor's daughter, who refuses to see him.read · scan
- p. 345The Merchant's Son wooes the sleeping Princess with flattering tales and wins her promise of marriage.read · scan
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1271–1273A lover keeps watch over his sleeping lady in the serenaderead · scan
- p. 1302–1303Many suitors seek Evangeline, but only Gabriel is welcome; childhood companionship ripens toward love.read · scan
- p. 1303–1304Gabriel and Evangeline have grown into a young man and woman; she will bring love and children to her husband's house.read · scan
Edgar Allan Poe, The Poetic PrincipleVol. 28
- p. 373–374Shelley's serenade voices a lover's rapturous longing at his beloved's window.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 973–975Lovers' serenade and the swallow sent with messages of love.read · scan
- p. 1027–1030He wants only to be sure one loves him, then 'I shall have had my day'; Maud in the wood.read · scan
- p. 1030–1031He lingers at Maud's garden gate, imagining her gliding to him, alternately hopeful and doubtful of her kindness.read · scan
- p. 1032–1033He resolves to speak to Maud, sees her beauty as his one bright thing to save him, and asks if she would keep her word.read · scan
Robert Browning, A Blot in the 'ScutcheonVol. 18
- p. 359Mertoun's suit for Lady Mildred; Gerard the favourite she smiles upon.read · scan
- p. 363Mertoun avows love for Mildred and asks for her hand, trembling; Guendolen calls his fear and diffidence true love.read · scan
- p. 363Mertoun falteringly reveals he has seen Mildred's beauty and loves her; Guendolen mocks his manner.read · scan
- p. 363Austin and Guendolen banter about the fervour proper to a suitor, contrasting Mertoun's manner with their own tame betrothal.read · scan
Robert Browning, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1072–1073Lover hopes for or tarries for beloved's affection; love's growth like flowers from seed.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Two Years Before the MastVol. 23
- p. 237–238Playful courtship: the hat offers gallantry for the evening.read · scan
James Russell Lowell, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1374–1376Zekle courting Huldy begins in a cozy farm kitchen.read · scan
- p. 1376–1378Comic rustic courtship: shy Zekle and Huldy awkwardly fall in love and kiss, her feelings flying like sparks.read · scan
George Meredith, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1140–1141A lover watches his young sweetheart, desiring to win her yet wishing her kept free and unpossessed.read · scan
- p. 1141–1142The lover delights in his sweetheart, wishing her laughter ever cool as dew, and sees her as a dove.read · scan
- p. 1142–1143The lover prizes his wild sweetheart above tame garden flowers, imagining her asleep and himself in her thoughts.read · scan
3b.Mutual love and the joys of union
See also: Poetry 11b · Emotion 11a
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 139Odysseus goes up to Circe's bed after she swears the oath.read · scan
Plutarch, PericlesVol. 12
- p. 59–60Pericles's inclination for Aspasia is said to have come from love, though she was also valued for political skill.read · scan
- p. 60–61Pericles divorced his wife by consent and loved Aspasia with wonderful affection, kissing her daily.read · scan
Plutarch, AntonyVol. 12
- p. 341–343Cleopatra never leaves Antony, sharing his games, drink and frolics, and flattering his vanity in fishing.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 123–125Mutual passion: he sighs and cannot eat or sleep, and she confesses that love for him has taken her sleep and appetite.read · scan
- p. 125–126The lovers arrange a secret tryst; he passes a sleepless night in eager anticipation and she waits with equal longing.read · scan
- p. 127The lovers embrace and confess mutual passion; her love makes all his wealth seem worthless, and she weeps at parting.read · scan
- p. 136Her return relieves his troubles, and he declares his feelings; she accepts, the eunuch saying she loves him more.read · scan
- p. 152The damsel, moved by compassion, avows her love is greater than his and arranges a secret meeting on Friday during prayers.read · scan
- p. 196Both are caught in the snare of the other's love; they embrace and kiss, and she is left overcome by his love.read · scan
- p. 198The mother urges giving the damsel to the son because she loves him and he loves her.read · scan
- p. 213The damsel complains she lacks a companion to share her cup, and drinks and sings with her master.read · scan
- p. 221–222Nur-ed-Din's generosity springs from kindness, and the Khalifeh's deceptions serve his wish to hear the damsel.read · scan
- p. 327The King's passion grows for the mute damsel; he forsakes all other concubines for her.read · scan
- p. 328The King, excessively in love after a year, gives up his concubines and begs the damsel to speak.read · scan
- p. 328–329Only the King's love for her keeps her from throwing herself into the sea.read · scan
- p. 331–332Jullanar and the King each say they would die without the other; her family's affection is shown too.read · scan
The Story of the Volsungs and NiblungsVol. 49
- p. 305Sigurd and Brynhild plight troth, each choosing the other above all.read · scan
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales; The Nun's Priest's TaleVol. 40
- p. 34Chauntecleer loves Pertelote, his courteous and discreet favorite among seven hens, and they sing together in sweet accord.read · scan
- p. 42He turns to mirth and delights in her beauty.read · scan
- p. 43Chauntecleer praises Pertelote and says her soft side makes him defy dreams.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 326Ascanio and the girl return each other's passion, and he hides her in the statue.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 201Cardenio tells of loving Lucinda from infancy, their mutual affection, and love letters and verses that grew stronger when her father barred him.read · scan
- p. 239–240Lucinda's letter to Cardenio shows mutual affection and invites him to seek her father's consent.read · scan
- p. 240–241Cardenio and Lucinda hope for marriage, and Fernando's amorous desire betrays them.read · scan
- p. 241–242Cardenio recalls the lovers' delighted conversations through an iron grate and Lucinda's unexpected tears at parting.read · scan
- p. 357Lovers' reunion is anticipated as Cardenio recognizes Lucinda's voice and Dorothea her betrayer spouse.read · scan
- p. 361Lucinda and Cardenio embrace, declaring each other true lord and owner; Fernando is conquered by Dorothea's truth.read · scan
- p. 406The narrator, bound by obligation, regards her as a deity come from heaven for his relief.read · scan
- p. 420Narrator's tender care for Zoraida, who bears the rugged journey afoot with patience and joy.read · scan
- p. 422He serves Zoraida as father and squire, not yet spouse, counting her his greatest fortune.read · scan
- p. 458–461Sancho remarks on Dorothea and Don Fernando's public kisses, unbecoming to a queen.read · scan
Edmund Spenser, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 230–231Venus invoked to smile on the couple and remove all dislike from their loves.read · scan
- p. 233–234Poet wakes his beloved, promising long delight to repay past pains and sorrows.read · scan
- p. 235–236Poet summons nymphs to garland and strew flowers for his beloved and wake her for the wedding.read · scan
- p. 241Bridegroom longs for the wedding day to end so he may come to his beloved; joyful nuptial celebration.read · scan
- p. 242Welcomes wedding night that ends the cares of love and asks that the lovers' joy be undisturbed.read · scan
- p. 243–244The cupids and delights of the wedding night; pleasure of lovers' union.read · scan
Sir Philip Sidney, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 210–211Praises the beloved's beauty; then a dirge for dead love, which is only sleeping in her mind.read · scan
- p. 211–213Love mourned then revived; true lovers exchange hearts; the lover longs for the beloved.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, Edward the SecondVol. 46
- p. 33Edward greets Gaveston with ardent joy, comparing himself to Danae's lovers; Gaveston answers with equal delight.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 197–199Hamlet declares his love for Ophelia exceeds forty thousand brothers' love and rants against Laertes' show of grief.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The TempestVol. 46
- p. 432–435Ferdinand and Miranda declare love and plight troth, she offering to be wife or servant.read · scan
- p. 455–458Ferdinand and Miranda, playing chess, declare devoted young love; the elders bless the couple.read · scan
Thomas Dekker, The Shoemaker's HolidayVol. 47
- p. 503Rose recognizes her lover Lacy disguised as a shoemaker, and they long to speak; Sybil promises to help them marry.read · scan
- p. 513–514Lacy and Rose rejoice in each other and plan to escape and marry at Eyre's house.read · scan
- p. 516–517Rose flees with her love; Sybil is glad she escaped.read · scan
John Donne, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 308–310Lover reflects on whether he has all his beloved's love, love's growth, unrequited love, and love as correspondency between hearts.read · scan
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies A-BleedingVol. 47
- p. 679Arethusa demands Philaster's love, without which kingdoms are worthless to her; he declares he loves her above his life.read · scan
- p. 679Philaster avows love above life; Arethusa says the gods' hidden justice ennobles their love; they plan secret communication.read · scan
- p. 727–731Philaster embraces Bellario tenderly, calling him his wealth; Arethusa and Philaster show mutual devotion.read · scan
- p. 733–734Bellario's allegory of two cedars divided by fortune and joined again describes the lovers' unionread · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 905–908Lady Allworth's rekindled affection for Wellborn shows in her glances, kisses and sighs at his name.read · scan
- p. 928Lovell woos the widow, sealing a contract with a kiss; she promises a life devoted to pleasing him.read · scan
Robert Herrick, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 336–338Lover's total devotion to Anthea, ready to live, weep, or die at her bidding.read · scan
Francis Quarles, An EcstasyVol. 40
- p. 341Mutual union of lover and Beloved compared to two brooks joining; souls firmly united.read · scan
John Milton, Poems Written at Horton, 1632-1638Vol. 4
- p. 70–72Cupid and Psyche's union, after her long wanderings, foretells the birth of Youth and Joy.read · scan
Alexander Brome, The ResolveVol. 40
- p. 369–370The speaker will love only a woman who loves him in return; kindness outweighs looks.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 237–239Estranged lovers half-pretend to part while clearly still in love; Valere lingers at the door.read · scan
- p. 239–242Dorine reconciles the quarrelling lovers, insisting they love each other better than they think, and turns them to stopping the marriage.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, Minor WorksVol. 48
- p. 416–417Describes joys and pains of secret love, its need for novelty, and the eloquence of action to keep passion alive.read · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 46Cleopatra defends her love: Caesar possessed her person but Antony her love; she would part with anything but him.read · scan
- p. 94Antony calls his life a golden dream of love, then hears Cleopatra's supposed suicide and mourns her innocence.read · scan
- p. 94–100Dying Antony and Cleopatra reconcile; ten years' love seemed ages, and lovers' ghosts will attend them.read · scan
Jean Racine, PhaedraVol. 26
- p. 153–154Hippolytus declares his love to Aricia, describing his surrender after scorning love and his obsession with her image.read · scan
- p. 175–177He confesses his love for Aricia, defying his father's ban, to disprove the charge.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 320–322Minna is overjoyed at finding Tellheim, is in love, and wants everyone to share her happiness.read · scan
- p. 322–323Minna's joy at finding her lover again after seeking him.read · scan
- p. 323–324Minna's joyful anticipation and the lovers' fraught meeting; Tellheim draws back.read · scan
- p. 324–325Minna presses Tellheim to admit he still loves her; he confesses despite his efforts to forget her.read · scan
- p. 342–343Franziska banters; Minna's love for Tellheim; Werner disclaims misleading a girl, since a rascally soldier does so.read · scan
- p. 351–352Minna asserts her love and intended union with Tellheim, undeterred by his letter.read · scan
- p. 353–354Minna teases him lovingly, offering herself as his sovereign and the good-natured girl at whose door he'd be relieved.read · scan
- p. 359–360Tellheim resolves to marry Minna the next day and leave with her, moved by her distress.read · scan
- p. 360–361Tellheim is revived by Minna's supposed unhappiness and sets out to beg her pardon and restore the ring.read · scan
- p. 371–372Minna reveals her deception was a jest; Tellheim embraces her and receives back the ring, restoring their union.read · scan
- p. 372–374Minna puts the ring on Tellheim's finger, calling him husband, and repays his torment by a trick.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 14The merryman compares composing a drama to a love affair of chance meeting, rapture and despair.read · scan
- p. 62–64Song of lovers vowing deathless love and stars raining blissful love.read · scan
- p. 132–135Faust insists his passion is true and inexpressible, eternal; Mephistopheles mocks lovers' vows as sophistry.read · scan
- p. 137–140Margaret plucks the star-flower petals, 'he loves me', and Faust vows eternal love while she trembles.read · scan
- p. 140–142Margaret and Faust exchange kisses and declarations of love; she wonders what he finds in a simple girl.read · scan
- p. 152–154Margaret feels blest in Faust's arms and does whatever he asks; Faust calls her pure soul possessed by ardent love.read · scan
- p. 195–197Margaret recognizes Faust's voice and embraces him, recalling their first meeting, then feels his coldness.read · scan
- p. 197–200Faust urges Gretchen to flee with him; she recognizes her lover with wonder and recalls the rapture of their love.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, EgmontVol. 19
- p. 267–268Clara admires Egmont and only asks whether he loves her; she never loved Brackenburg though she liked him.read · scan
- p. 268–269Clara exults in Egmont's tenderness and expects him constantly; her lowly house is a paradise since his love dwelt there.read · scan
- p. 290–291Clara sings of love's rapture and pain while her mother notes Brackenburg's devotion.read · scan
- p. 292–293Clara is consumed by love for Egmont, weeping at the thought of life without him; joyous reunion.read · scan
- p. 295–296Clara embraces Egmont, seeking in his eyes hope and comfort, joy and sorrow.read · scan
- p. 296–297With Clara he is calm, unreserved and happy; she says the world has no joy after this.read · scan
- p. 332–333Liberty borrows the mien of his beloved, uniting his two sweetest joys.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hermann and DorotheaVol. 19
- p. 400–401The invocation asks the Muses to favor the young couple's love and dispel clouds over their happiness.read · scan
- p. 404Dorothea confesses her affection for Hermann, whom she saw as a savior, and her hope of deserving him.read · scan
- p. 404–406Dorothea freely confesses her love and foolish hope, and her dread that Hermann would bring home a bride.read · scan
- p. 406–407Hermann declares he came to the fountain to sue for her love, and the pair embrace, hoping for a lifetime of bliss.read · scan
- p. 408He asks her to love those who love her; she recalls him as new love brings hope.read · scan
- p. 408–410Hermann calls Dorothea his own and urges their union be firmer amid convulsions.read · scan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for ScandalVol. 18
- p. 144–145Maria prefers Charles though her understanding condemns his vices; pity mingles with affection.read · scan
- p. 194–195Charles and Maria are reconciled; the wish that their love never abate; Charles finds sanctuary in love.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 28–30Lover is blessed beyond kings in his beloved's arms, seeking no more of Heaven than the moment's pleasure.read · scan
- p. 44–46Lover recalls a happy night among the barley rigs with Annie, worth more than all other pleasures.read · scan
- p. 46–48Speaker's devotion to Nanie and to lasses; love is the only care, and life would be empty without women.read · scan
- p. 67–68Pleasures of the heart, lover and friend, Davie's Meg and the poet's Jean, are the best joys.read · scan
- p. 69–70Poet's devotion to his beloved and friend Davie; tender feelings lighten his weary days.read · scan
- p. 98–100Happy the man whose lass sits beside him; young men wink at lasses.read · scan
- p. 122–124The lass delights in young soldiers and recounts her loves.read · scan
- p. 130–132Bard professes love for women, mutual raptures, and tolerance for their tricks; mocks marriage as no brighter in love.read · scan
- p. 136–137Jenny's courtship by a neighbor lad; praise of innocent mutual love as the finest earthly bliss; curse on seducers.read · scan
- p. 278–280The loving pair meeting on the banks in tender embrace.read · scan
- p. 318–320Ode to the kiss as pledge of affection and love's first token.read · scan
- p. 356–358Love songs: a lass pledges herself to her shepherd lad; a lover wounded by bonnie blue eyes; a woman longs for banished Highland Harry.read · scan
- p. 375–377Song to Anna: her embrace outweighs the East and West, empress and sultana.read · scan
- p. 426–428Contentment asks only the trusted friend and the beloved; memory of a dear secret sweetheart.read · scan
- p. 437–439Bawdy praise of kissing as key of love; old wife recalls past affection.read · scan
- p. 478–480Poet praises Maria and pledges devotion to his Dearie.read · scan
- p. 506–507He and she trade similes of mutual love for Philly and Willy, sweeter than spring or bee, worth more than gold.read · scan
- p. 518–520Devotion to Jean: without her Paradise gives no joy, with her Lapland's sky is welcome; she has the truest heart.read · scan
- p. 538–540Love is a sweeter flower amid life's thorny path; lovers' vows and the lover's woe or delight in his lassie.read · scan
- p. 552–553Lover would shelter his beloved from storms; a desert with her is Paradise, and a monarch's crown is prized only for her.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 432–434Bertha and Rudenz avow mutual love; her love can rescue her from a hated forced marriage.read · scan
- p. 434–436Rudenz and Bertha envision married love building a home; Bertha urges him to fight for land and love.read · scan
- p. 488–489Bertha gives her hand to Rudenz, a free Swiss maiden to a free Swiss man.read · scan
Samuel Rogers, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 582–583Watches his beloved sleeping and dreaming, tender with wish and fear over her secret thoughts.read · scan
William Wordsworth, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 628–630The haunts of happy lovers and the ballad of love's strength in sorrow.read · scan
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 705–707Lover sings another's love story that interprets his own; Genevieve responds with blushes, pity and embrace.read · scan
- p. 707–708Lover calms her fears, wins Genevieve as bride.read · scan
Robert Tannahill, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 593–594Devotion to Jessie and a dearie; nature's joys and grandeur mean nothing without the beloved.read · scan
Charles Lamb, On the Tragedies of ShakspereVol. 27
- p. 302Intimate lovers' dialogues of Romeo, Juliet, Othello, Imogen are spoiled when addressed to a crowd.read · scan
Thomas Moore, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 816–818Devotion of lover and friends: dying for the beloved is the next blessing, and friends make the vale of Avoca dear.read · scan
- p. 820–822Songs of lovers stealing night hours together, and of love's truer echoes in mutual sighs.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 295Lucia finds 'love' a word she cannot pronounce about herself, too delicate to name.read · scan
- p. 597–598Renzo's overwhelming joy at finding Lucia alive in the plague camp; lovers' reunion amid disaster.read · scan
- p. 606–607Lucia blushes deeply, revealing her feeling for Renzo.read · scan
- p. 607–608Renzo's eager gratitude as the obstacle to marriage is removed.read · scan
- p. 625–626Renzo and Lucia's reunion; her reserved greeting hides her feelings, which he understands.read · scan
- p. 626–627The lovers find every subject of conversation delightful now that they are reunited.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 139–140The prince's kiss awakens the beautiful princess, ending in marriage.read · scan
- p. 166The king recognises her by ring and white finger and declares her his dear bride, never to part.read · scan
- p. 200The lovers flee together, the princess protecting her beloved by magic.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 848Ariel devotedly serves Miranda and Ferdinand, guiding their love and asking only a smile and a song.read · scan
John Keats, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 878–879Lover on the urn never kisses yet love is forever warm and unfading.read · scan
- p. 880–881Vision of Cupid and Psyche embraced in sleep on the grass.read · scan
- p. 881–882Warm Love let in through the casement; a mistress's rage embraced.read · scan
- p. 890–891Porphyro wakes Madeline with vows, calling her his heaven; she mourns the change from dream-lover to real.read · scan
- p. 892–893Porphyro melts into her dream; Madeline yields, and he offers a home and devoted service.read · scan
- p. 897–898Wishes to lie steadfast on his love's breast, and regrets never enjoying unreflecting love.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, MannersVol. 5
- p. 207–208Even lovers should guard their strangeness; too much forgiveness and intimacy slides into confusion and meanness.read · scan
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 922–923Love, not Death, is what holds the mourning speaker.read · scan
- p. 928–929She asks to be loved for love's sake alone, not for changeable traits, so that love may last through eternity.read · scan
- p. 930–931Exchange of a lock of hair as love token; love justified despite her sorrow and youth gone.read · scan
- p. 931–932Wonder at the beloved, desire for repeated declarations of love, and souls standing face to face content on earth.read · scan
- p. 932–934Love's close hand shuts out the world's sharpness; his love rescues her from sorrow and the isolation of dreams, stronger than death.read · scan
- p. 936–937She gives her whole heart as her 'all my good'; fears love may fail, and wonders if leaving home for him is right.read · scan
- p. 938Confession of imperfect devotion, the first kisses, and gratitude that he sees her true soul through the worn mask.read · scan
- p. 939–940She contrasts fickle love with the beloved's patient, enduring love that waits through sorrow, and asks to thank him; love endures beyond life.read · scan
- p. 940–941Speaker counts the ways she loves: depth, everyday need, freely, purely, with old griefs and faith, and beyond death.read · scan
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1283–1284The maiden rests her head on the young man's breast as the master tells tales.read · scan
- p. 1309The lovers whisper apart by the window, watching the moon rise.read · scan
- p. 1309Evangeline's heart is filled with gladness by lover's farewell words; her lover waits in the orchard.read · scan
- p. 1314–1315Evangeline comforts Gabriel: if we love one another nothing can harm us.read · scan
Edward FitzGerald, Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám of NaishápúrVol. 41
- p. 957–958Addresses his sweetheart; the moon will look for one of them in vain.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1033–1034He declares his love, exults in her yes and in his 'only friend', and sees her presence as changing his fate.read · scan
- p. 1036–1037Speaker exults in his beloved Maud, 'my own heart's heart', blessed though shadowed by a dark undercurrent of woe.read · scan
- p. 1039–1041Speaker owes Maud an unpayable debt, imagines her as queen, and plans a tryst in the rose-garden.read · scan
- p. 1041–1043Lover waits in the garden at night for Maud, sworn that she is his forever, her rose a message.read · scan
- p. 1043–1044Flowers wait for Maud's coming; the lover's heart would beat for her even in the grave.read · scan
William Makepeace Thackeray, Jonathan SwiftVol. 28
- p. 24Swift's tender love for Stella, shown in his 'little language' journal letters, is the brightest part of his story despite his cruelty.read · scan
Robert Browning, A Blot in the 'ScutcheonVol. 18
- p. 369–372Secret lovers' reunion; Mertoun's song adores Mildred and hopes to make her his own.read · scan
- p. 373Mertoun recalls first meeting and youthful passion; Mildred asks him to love on, and he vows care for the one he injured.read · scan
Robert Browning, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1080–1082Lovers' dialogue of happiness and kisses is echoed in the music's phrases.read · scan
- p. 1094–1095The love poems are given to the beloved; Raphael's and Dante's private love overshadows their public works.read · scan
- p. 1096–1097Artist wants one language fit for his one beloved, and would give hoard and life like the camel.read · scan
- p. 1097–1098He gives his poems to his beloved as his heart's offering.read · scan
- p. 1098–1100Like the moon, a man shows one side to the world and another to the woman he loves.read · scan
Charles Kingsley, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1060–1062Courting joys on Airly Beacon; hope that in old age one finds a beloved face.read · scan
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1177–1178The sonnets celebrate the beloved, souls fused with one another and with God, and love's power.read · scan
- p. 1179–1180Sonnets on love's intimacy, kisses and the beloved as the meaning of all things.read · scan
Algernon Charles Swinburne, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1206–1208Playful lovers' fancies of April and May, pleasure and pain; then the fading of lovers' garden.read · scan
Robert Louis Stevenson, Truth of IntercourseVol. 28
- p. 278Intimacy with those we love depends on expressing humour and pathos in speech.read · scan
- p. 278Even in love there are unlovely humours; a kind sentiment may underlie unpardonable words.read · scan
- p. 281Truthful answers by yea and nay require a questioner with inspiration such as mutual love provides.read · scan
- p. 282Between lovers and man and wife understanding outruns knowledge; speech is half discarded and the body's language grows eloquent.read · scan
3c.Absence, longing and parting
See also: Emotion 11a
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 29–30A poem of longing is criticized: real thoughts would not leave one far away.read · scan
Aeschylus, AgamemnonVol. 8
- p. 21–22Menelaus mourns his lost wife, seeing her in dreams that vanish.read · scan
Plutarch, AntonyVol. 12
- p. 361–362Antony, impatient for Cleopatra's arrival, drinks and runs from table to watch for her.read · scan
Pliny the Younger, Letters of PlinyVol. 9
- p. 278–280Pliny longs for absent, sick loved ones, suffering anxiety, and rereads letters, finding pleasure mixed with pain.read · scan
- p. 298–299Pliny's longing for an absent loved one, sleepless and sick at heart like an excluded lover.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 63–64The song mourns an absent beloved and a constant lover who wastes away and hopes to meet at judgment.read · scan
- p. 203He weeps and cannot bear parting for an hour; she says necessity is imperious.read · scan
- p. 222–223Lovers' farewell: the beloved remains in the heart though parted, and they pray for reunion.read · scan
- p. 228–229Enis-el-Jelis weeps for her absent master, whose image never leaves her.read · scan
- p. 229The damsel pines for Ali and the Khalifeh keeps his promise to send her, while Ali longs to see his patron.read · scan
- p. 370–371Ala-ed-Din's violent love and yearning for the princess make him practise patience while his mother waits.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 66–68Love Gregor mourns Annie's death with tears, kisses and torn hair; she perished coming to him.read · scan
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy GrailVol. 35
- p. 114Guenever laments Launcelot's leaving and Launcelot begs her forbearance, showing the bond of love between them.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 127Cellini asks the spirits to reunite him with Angelica.read · scan
- p. 131Absorption in work makes him forget Angelica.read · scan
- p. 134–135Cellini's romantic longing for the courtesan Angelica draws him to lodge at the innkeeper's house in Naples.read · scan
- p. 136–137Angelica weeps at parting; Cellini treats the affair lightly, leaving with laughter.read · scan
Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, Complaint of the Absence of Her Lover Being upon the Sea; The Means to Attain Happy LifeVol. 40
- p. 193–194A woman mourns her lover away at sea, dreaming of him and torn between hope and dread.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 62–63Quixote passes a sleepless night remembering Dulcinea, as knights in books did, and lives on pleasant remembrances.read · scan
- p. 89Don Quixote spends the night remembering Dulcinea in imitation of Marcela's lovers, while Sancho sleeps unlike a disfavoured lover.read · scan
- p. 170Imagined secret lovers' parting at a garden window: sighs, swoon, kissed hands and tears.read · scan
- p. 170Imagined lovers' vows, tears and grief at parting; the princess hopes her unknown knight is of royal blood.read · scan
- p. 215Don Quixote laments his absent Dulcinea, apostrophizing the wilderness as a lover in penance.read · scan
- p. 222Quixote's letter to Dulcinea expresses lovesick wounds of absence, disdain and readiness to die for her cruelty.read · scan
- p. 243Cardenio cannot bear absence from Lucinda; receives her tearful letter through a stranger, showing lovers' anxious devotion.read · scan
- p. 249–251Cardenio refuses health or comfort without Lucinda, and says his harms cannot end even with death.read · scan
- p. 291–292Dulcinea's supposed message expresses longing to see Quixote and bids him leave his penance.read · scan
- p. 407Zoraida's questions about his betrothed and his longing for home and loved ones; he flatters her by comparing his bride to her.read · scan
- p. 408Zoraida weeps at Christian's departure; he vows never to leave without her, and she feigns swooning against his breast to hide their attachment.read · scan
- p. 408–409Zoraida seems heartbroken at parting; the narrator longs for the happiness fortune offers in her.read · scan
- p. 510Quixote's first words invoke Dulcinea, saying absence from her is a worse misery than his injuries.read · scan
Edmund Spenser, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 251Lover mourns his absent beloved like a dove for her mate; only her sight can comfort him.read · scan
Sir Philip Sidney, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 213–214Longing for Stella; the moon is asked whether lovers are scorned in heaven as here.read · scan
Thomas Lodge, Rosalind's Madrigal; Rosaline; PhillisVol. 40
- p. 216–217Lover bemoans absence of Rosaline; Phillis's lips guarded by Love, who stings if approached.read · scan
Michael Drayton, Agincourt; To the Virginian Voyage; Love's FarewellVol. 40
- p. 228Lover bids a bitter farewell, love dying, yet hopes at the last that the beloved might revive it.read · scan
William Shakespeare, Songs and SonnetsVol. 40
- p. 266–268Lover's longing for a blossom-like beloved; love sworn away; friendship's feigning and folly.read · scan
- p. 273–274Lover as devoted slave awaiting the beloved; love fears losing the beloved to time.read · scan
- p. 276–277Plea that the beloved leave now rather than later; absence feels like winter.read · scan
- p. 278In the beloved's absence spring and flowers are only shadows of the beloved, the pattern of all beauty.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, Edward the SecondVol. 46
- p. 19Edward and Gaveston part in grief, exchanging pictures and promising undiminished love.read · scan
- p. 22–25Edward mourns the absence of his beloved Gaveston with extravagant grief, while Isabella pines for her husband's love.read · scan
- p. 29–31The niece rejoices at Gaveston's letters of devotion; Edward is anxious and impatient for his arrival.read · scan
Thomas Dekker, The Shoemaker's HolidayVol. 47
- p. 475–478Rose pines in confinement for Lacy, lamenting her father's unkindness and her stolen love.read · scan
- p. 478–479Rose pines for Lacy and fears he will go to France; Sybil mocks loving one who loves not in return.read · scan
John Donne, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 305–306Lovers' souls are one; parting is an expansion like beaten gold, and the twin-compass image shows constancy in absence.read · scan
- p. 306–308Love's fears and doubts, parting, and the claim that lovers who keep each other alive are never parted.read · scan
- p. 310–311Lovers plead not to part at dawn; business is the worst disease of love; unrequited love is preferred to falsehood.read · scan
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies A-BleedingVol. 47
- p. 708Arethusa fondly anticipates her page's report on her lover's remembrance of her.read · scan
- p. 710Arethusa mourns losing the boy who carried her love-tokens and songs; Philaster calls himself her slave and creature.read · scan
William Drummond, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 329Lover recalls the place where his beloved stayed and first gave hope; longing for her.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Dr. John DonneVol. 15
- p. 337–339Donne's Valediction: refined love of united souls endures parting as an expansion, like gold beaten thin or compass feet.read · scan
Pierre Corneille, PolyeucteVol. 26
- p. 90Lovers part in grief; Severus and Pauline still love and beg each other to depart.read · scan
Edmund Waller, On a Girdle; Go, Lovely Rose!Vol. 40
- p. 357–358The lover treasures the girdle that bound his beloved, in which all his joy, grief, hope and love moved.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, Minor WorksVol. 48
- p. 420–421The lover's state: irresolute near the beloved, alternating hope and fear, anxiety in absence, joy at reunion; worthy of compassion.read · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 23–24Antony retires hoping absence will cure his mind of love for Cleopatra.read · scan
- p. 24–26Cleopatra dotes on the vanquished Antony; Antony pines for her, raving in solitude.read · scan
- p. 39Cleopatra anxiously awaits Antony's answer and disdains his cold 'respect' as fit only for a wife.read · scan
- p. 67–69Antony cannot bring himself to tell Cleopatra to part, asks Dolabella to soften it, and fears his tenderness would ruin both.read · scan
Jean Racine, PhaedraVol. 26
- p. 155–157Hippolytus and Aricia part uncertain of each other's feeling while Phaedra approaches, her heart overcome.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 313–314Minna is confident her heart will lead her to find Tellheim, her lover.read · scan
- p. 314–315Minna anxiously wonders at Tellheim's single letter since the peace, fearing he is dead or married to another.read · scan
- p. 327Despair and separation from Minna; she calls after him.read · scan
- p. 330–331Minna's agitation over Tellheim's departure.read · scan
- p. 339–340Tellheim's distress at losing Minna; Werner's quick friendship with Franziska and hint of match.read · scan
- p. 341–342Minna insists on hearing Tellheim's reasons in person; his pain at facing her; Franziska teases about Werner's flirtation.read · scan
Anne Hunter, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 581A girl pines for absent Lubin, indifferent to finery and dancing, the village seeming dead without him.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 145–146Mephistopheles describes Margaret's all-devouring, lovesick longing while Faust cannot forget her or lose her love.read · scan
- p. 147–150Margaret's spinning-wheel song of longing for Faust, his kiss and presence; Faust says he'd give heart and blood.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hermann and DorotheaVol. 19
- p. 385–386Hermann longs to see the maiden once more, hoping her 'yes' would make him happy and fearing her 'no' would destroy him.read · scan
Anonymous PoemsVol. 41
- p. 498–499Maid longs for Willie who promised marriage; her sorrow at his absence.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 109–110Speaker's longing for the beloved, whose sweet charms tempt him; wishes for a connubial flame answered in each bosom.read · scan
- p. 126–128A widow mourns her Highland lover and the fiddler woos with light-hearted songs of marriage and merriment.read · scan
- p. 217–220Parting lover swears his heart is Eliza's until death; friends toast the departed bardread · scan
- p. 222–224Lover's glow ends in marriage discovering a 'buskit up naething'; farewell to friends and Jean.read · scan
- p. 224–226Anguish at parting from Jeany and friends; grateful farewells.read · scan
- p. 246–248Poet regrets a lost love yet does not repent; sends greetings and good wishes to women.read · scan
- p. 269–271The bard's lost Stella, his only joy, sustains his sorrow.read · scan
- p. 289–290Longing for a beloved Highland rover to return safe, prayer for his protection.read · scan
- p. 300–302Sleepless longing for absent dearie; lovers' courtship and beguiling of a lass.read · scan
- p. 302–304Women long for absent lovers and mourn their parting.read · scan
- p. 304–305Toasts to those who love us; pleasure of nature fails for the lonely lover.read · scan
- p. 305–307Every wind, flower and bird reminds him of his Jean.read · scan
- p. 339–341Songs of lovers: the poet's longing for Delia, and Willie's desire for the sleeping Nelly.read · scan
- p. 398–399Woman longs for the distant man she loves; another laments a false lover who stole her rose.read · scan
- p. 428–430Parting from Nancy: love recalled with anguish, faithful memory and lasting devotion.read · scan
- p. 472–474Parting lovers, faithless Jamie, and lost joys.read · scan
- p. 482–484Fare-thee-well vow of lasting love; Jamie rueing his inconstancy; Maria's tryst.read · scan
- p. 491–492Parting from a loved one, never to meet again.read · scan
- p. 494–496A woman's love for her absent sailor lad; the lover's tender wooing of his Dearie.read · scan
- p. 501–503Widowed heart longs for absent Dearie; the lover awakens to joy only in Chloris's presence.read · scan
- p. 509–511Love's pleasures and sorrows; devoted longing for 'Somebody' and prayer for his safety.read · scan
- p. 514–516A lass and her laddie parted by war; his courage fails only for love of her.read · scan
- p. 534–536Lovers' longing, separation and despair for Chloris and Jean; love's willing fetters and a lover's fond dream.read · scan
- p. 543–545Praise of Mally's beauty and grief of a girl for her departed Jockey, wishing him safe.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 462–464Rudenz's anguish for the stolen Bertha, whom he loves, drives his demand for rescue.read · scan
- p. 475–477Rudenz's frenzy to save Bertha and the vow of comradeship sworn with Melchthal.read · scan
William Wordsworth, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 672–674Sonnets of absent love and of grief for a dead beloved, remembered with anguish.read · scan
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 710–711She prays for the weal of her far-away lover.read · scan
Thomas Campbell, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 770–771Star of love's interviews reminds parted lovers of vows that absence cannot break.read · scan
- p. 774–776The evening star invoked for peace, pleasure and love, and the poet's beloved Caroline.read · scan
- p. 776–778Poet invokes the star to shine on his beloved Caroline; Ellen dies of a broken heart when her lover comes too late.read · scan
William Hazlitt, Of Persons One Would Wish to Have SeenVol. 27
- p. 269–271Donne's lines: lover begs his mistress not to follow him abroad in disguise, dangers of love, absent lovers one in the other.read · scan
Thomas Moore, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 822The mourner sings the song once shared with the beloved and imagines her voice answering from the Kingdom of Souls.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 89–90The lovers long to be wed and to escape Rodrigo's reach.read · scan
- p. 134–135Cottage remembered as future home of a wife, and the betrothal rite where love was blessed.read · scan
- p. 137–138Lovers separated, remembering the wedding banquet they had hoped for.read · scan
- p. 278–279His thoughts turn tenderly to Lucia, Father Cristoforo and Agnese, and he grieves for the wedding night lost.read · scan
- p. 284He longs to bring Lucia and Agnese to live near him and picture their outing.read · scan
- p. 543Renzo's longing for Lucia drives him to seek her despite uncertainty and her vow.read · scan
- p. 554–555Renzo's devotion to Lucia drives his journey and his resolve of what he will do if she is dead.read · scan
- p. 570–571Renzo's anxious search for Lucia shows his devotion.read · scan
- p. 586–587Renzo would rather have died together with Lucia; the friar urges resignation in the search for her.read · scan
- p. 595Renzo's anxious search for Lucia.read · scan
- p. 596His search for Lucia among the women's quarter.read · scan
- p. 612His joy at finding Lucia alive and 'mine' drives the whole journey.read · scan
Lord Byron, ManfredVol. 18
- p. 432–434Manfred begs the phantom of Astarte to speak, loving her beyond torment and sin.read · scan
George Gordon, Lord Byron, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 796–798Rhine poem: the beautiful scene lacks only the beloved's hand to double his joy.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 835–836Friendship and love's caress may not await the wanderer, but death makes it matter little.read · scan
- p. 854–855Love will slumber on in thoughts of the departed beloved.read · scan
Thomas Hood, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 905–908Lover laments the departure of fair Ines and envies the cavalier who won her.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 295–296As the water closes over him he thinks of the Dancer and that he will never see her again.read · scan
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 934–935Letters quiver with the beloved's declarations; her thoughts twine about him, and nearness exceeds thinking.read · scan
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1282–1283Love commands the skilful hand; the heart, not the brain, attains the highest; the youth longs for his promised bride.read · scan
- p. 1318Evangeline's restless longing and endless search for her lost beloved Gabriel across the continent.read · scan
- p. 1321–1322Evangeline is sustained by a vision of Gabriel, who seems nearer with each oar stroke.read · scan
- p. 1322Evangeline sleeps and dreams of heaven with her heart full of love, while Gabriel passes unseen, both seeking each other.read · scan
- p. 1324–1325Dove-cots as love's perpetual symbol; Evangeline's grief at missing her beloved Gabriel.read · scan
- p. 1325–1326Gabriel's restless lovesick longing for Evangeline made him tedious to all; Basil calls him a fugitive lover.read · scan
- p. 1326–1328Evangeline, entranced by longing, laments the absent Gabriel in the moonlit garden and prairie.read · scan
- p. 1330Evangeline and the Shawnee woman share tales of love, loss and disappointment; legends of phantom lovers.read · scan
- p. 1333Her lifelong search for Gabriel ends in disappointment, with the trail cold at his ruined lodge.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1047–1049Speaker hopes Maud still loves him and longs for her embrace; he begs powers to comfort her though he is parted.read · scan
- p. 1049–1051Speaker mourns the lost beloved, sorrowing after her hand, lips and eyes, and imagines meeting her.read · scan
Robert Browning, A Blot in the 'ScutcheonVol. 18
- p. 373–378Lovers part with tenderness; Mildred resolves to believe his every word.read · scan
- p. 399She laments the end of her secret love for Henry and dreads that he has failed her.read · scan
Robert Browning, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1108–1109Lover longs for the beloved, and in the dedication calls his dead wife a lyric love, half angel, half bird.read · scan
Arthur Hugh Clough, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1121–1122Parted companions hoped to be reunited at last.read · scan
Matthew Arnold, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1126–1128Longing to be joined across the sea; loved one cruel.read · scan
George Meredith, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1144–1145The lover longs for his absent sweetheart, asks to clasp her soul so she cannot die, and sees her return.read · scan
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1149–1151She longs for her earthly lover to join her, their two prayers a perfect strength.read · scan
- p. 1151–1153The damozel imagines reunion with her lover, telling of their love and living one life in peace.read · scan
William Morris, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1193–1195Speaker longs for the garden and the beloved's unforgotten face, once kissed and lost, sought even through death.read · scan
Robert Louis Stevenson, Truth of IntercourseVol. 28
- p. 279Lovers bent on perpetuity preserve the attitude of their affections across absence.read · scan
3d.Unrequited love, scorn and despair
See also: Emotion 11a · Poetry 11b
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 71Calypso says she loved and cherished Odysseus, and cites goddesses' mortal lovers Orion and Iasion who were slain.read · scan
Aesop, FablesVol. 17
- p. 40The lion in love gives up his claws and teeth to win the maiden and is then scorned.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 165–167Love changes human hearts, bending Dido's haughty soul to prayers and mean submissions; Aeneas's ears are stopped.read · scan
Sir Thomas Wyatt, A Supplication; The Lover's AppealVol. 40
- p. 192–193Lover pleads that his long, faithful service and suffering not be forgotten and that the beloved not leave him.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 43He laments in ballad a lady who does not grieve at his pain.read · scan
- p. 85Chrysostom is reported to have died for love of the shepherdess Marcela.read · scan
- p. 86Chrysostom abandoned his scholar's habit to follow Marcela as a shepherd, enamoured.read · scan
- p. 87–89Her disdain drives lovers to despair, sighs, lamentations and names carved on beech trees.read · scan
- p. 91–92Travellers discuss the shepherdess Marcela's beauty and the amorous pursuit of her that led to Chrysostom's death.read · scan
- p. 97Ambrosio recounts how Chrysostom's honest amorous affections met Marcela's disdain and ended his life.read · scan
- p. 97–98Chrysostom loved and was hated, adored and was disdained, pursuing the wind and serving ingratitude until death.read · scan
- p. 98–101The poet accuses his beloved of murdering rigour.read · scan
- p. 101–102Unrequited love brings jealousy, absence and disdain that undo the lover's life.read · scan
- p. 102–103Love is called a tyranny; the lover accepts scorn, excusing his beloved and asking no recompense.read · scan
- p. 104Chrysostom's despairing canzone laments a dying lover's torment; Ambrosio explains how absence breeds jealousy and suspicion in the lover.read · scan
- p. 105True love must be voluntary and cannot be forced; beauty attracts but does not oblige requital.read · scan
- p. 105She denies having promised or deceived anyone; love comes by election not destiny, and unloved suitors cannot claim jealousy.read · scan
- p. 108–109Chrysostom's epitaph says he died of disdain, slain by a coy fair ingrate.read · scan
- p. 191–192A disdained lover's letter accuses his lady of false promise and ingratitude; the book holds plaints, mistrusts, favours and disdains.read · scan
- p. 236–237The song laments disdain, jealousy and long absence as the causes of the lover's suffering.read · scan
- p. 268His grief stems from losing Lucinda, who was to be his wife, to Don Fernando.read · scan
- p. 301–302Daughter complains that cruel ladies let honourable lovers die or run mad rather than marry them.read · scan
- p. 329–331The sonnet laments a lover's plaints of an ungrateful lady.read · scan
Edmund Spenser, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 248–250Lover suffers for unrequited love; Easter hymn urges loving one another as Christ taught; sonnets on beloved's beauty.read · scan
Samuel Daniel, Beauty, Time, and Love: Sonnets; To SleepVol. 40
- p. 219–220The poet loves a cruel, fair mistress; his hopes and joys rest wholly in her.read · scan
William Shakespeare, Songs and SonnetsVol. 40
- p. 268–270A lover slain by a cruel maid; a poem promising the beloved lasting life.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, Edward the SecondVol. 46
- p. 20–22Isabella's unrequited love for Edward, who dotes on Gaveston.read · scan
- p. 22Isabella loves in vain a husband who does not love her.read · scan
- p. 39–41Isabella laments Edward's rejection and longs to hold him, weeping that her tears might soften his stony heart.read · scan
- p. 41Isabella pines for a husband who loves only Gaveston and turns to Mortimer's worth.read · scan
Thomas Campion, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 284–285The lover pines, scorned by his beloved, and his song and feelings depend on her voice and mood.read · scan
William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, To AuroraVol. 40
- p. 314–315Lover pleads with proud beloved to melt and share his soul and sorrows in happy harmony.read · scan
Thomas Dekker, The Shoemaker's HolidayVol. 47
- p. 491–493Hammon woos Rose, who mocks his vows and refuses him, saying she means to live a maid.read · scan
- p. 494–496Rose scorns love rhymes; Hammon says enforced love is worse than hate and turns to a shopkeeper's love.read · scan
- p. 523–524Hammon renounces Jane and vows never to marry another woman.read · scan
Ben Jonson, The AlchemistVol. 47
- p. 609–610Dapper wears a leaden heart since his love forsook him.read · scan
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies A-BleedingVol. 47
- p. 744Bellario confesses her maiden longing for Philaster, who appeared to her as a godread · scan
George Wither, I Loved a Lass; The Lover's ResolutionVol. 40
- p. 331–333Lament for a lost love and resolution not to pine for an unloving woman.read · scan
- p. 333Wooer's resolve: he will not despair; if slighted he can scorn and let her go.read · scan
Pierre Corneille, PolyeucteVol. 26
- p. 87Severus loves despite despair, blames Fate not Pauline and wishes to see her once more.read · scan
- p. 117Severus laments that his love must tyrannise him into aiding his rival's survival, while Pauline keeps calm.read · scan
John Milton, Poems Written at Horton, 1632-1638Vol. 4
- p. 34–39Nightingale portends success in love; the poet serves Muse and Love, and fears hopeless doom.read · scan
Sir John Suckling, The Constant Lover; Why So Pale and WanVol. 40
- p. 353–354Playful poems on the brevity of the lover's constancy and the futility of pining for an unresponsive lady.read · scan
Abraham Cowley, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 365–366The lover's lyre cannot move his lady; his passion is nourished, not cured, by music.read · scan
Love Will Find Out the Way; Phillada Flouts MeVol. 40
- p. 381–382The rejected suitor offers gifts and threatens to court others, yet pines because Phillada flouts him.read · scan
John Dryden, Preface to Fables, Ancient and ModernVol. 39
- p. 159–160Arcite in dying repents the injustice of his pursuit but not his love, and yields Emilia to Palamon.read · scan
John Dryden, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 387–388Song of Chloris: the lover pines for the cruel fair whose face commands all hearts, and he is love's victim.read · scan
Jean Racine, PhaedraVol. 26
- p. 163–164Phaedra hopes for love from a man who hates the sex and has never known it.read · scan
Sir Richard Steele, The Spectator ClubVol. 27
- p. 83Sir Roger stays a bachelor, crossed in love by a perverse widow, and grew careless of himself afterward.read · scan
Samuel Johnson, Life of Addison, 1672-1719Vol. 27
- p. 171His anxious courtship, played upon by the disdainful lady, leaves no encouragement for ambitious love.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, EgmontVol. 19
- p. 265–267Brackenburg is spellbound by Clara, who pains him; Clara's song shows her longing for her soldier lover.read · scan
- p. 270Brackenburg's unrequited love for Clara leaves him tormented, jealous and unable to leave her.read · scan
- p. 321–322Brackenburg's unrequited love for Clara and his admission he loved not Egmont as the rich man taking the poor man's lamb.read · scan
- p. 322–323She tells Brackenburg how sincerely she loved and pitied him, calls him brother, and entrusts him with her mother.read · scan
- p. 323–324Brackenburg offers loving, watchful solicitude as consolation to keep Clara alive.read · scan
- p. 324–326Brackenburg's unrequited love for Clara torments him, leaving him unable even to die beside her.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hermann and DorotheaVol. 19
- p. 360–362His concealed wish, a hopeless longing, is the true cause of his decision.read · scan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for ScandalVol. 18
- p. 116–118Lady Sneerwell secretly loves Charles and schemes against his attachment to Maria, while Surface seeks Maria's fortune.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 192–194A spurned lover, still doting on Menie, suffers her scorn while all nature rejoices.read · scan
- p. 298–300Lover pleads with charmer not to leave, invoking faith plighted.read · scan
- p. 402–403Gratitude and friendship toward patron Glencairn; secret love that will break the lover's heartread · scan
- p. 403–405Lover's anguish and adoration of his beloved, fearing refusal or her being in another's armsread · scan
- p. 445–446A poor lover pines for an heiress; the poem also praises admiration as woman's dearest right.read · scan
- p. 447–449Duncan Gray woos scornful Meg; slighted love is sore, but pity finally reconciles them.read · scan
- p. 463–465Songs of hopeless, courting and requited love; Jean's heart is lost, Robie woos her, and the lover despairs of Lesley.read · scan
- p. 499–501Unrequited passion hidden as friendship; the lover's longing for Peg and Philly, and grief at fickleness.read · scan
- p. 507–509Hopeless lover languishes for Eliza, Katie's fickleness breaks a heart, and Nanie's absence makes spring joyless.read · scan
- p. 511–514Secret love breaks the heart in spring's return; fear of rejection and a lover's despair.read · scan
Sir Walter Scott, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 744–747Unrequited love ends in heartbreak as her lover passes by without recognizing her.read · scan
Charles Lamb, On the Tragedies of ShakspereVol. 27
- p. 306Hamlet's asperity to Ophelia may be an artifice of love to alienate her before breaking off.read · scan
- p. 306Lamb argues deep love between Hamlet and Ophelia allows grief to appear as temporary alienation, love awkwardly counterfeiting hate rather than real aversion.read · scan
Walter Savage Landor, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 898–900Poet loves, mourns and hopes his beloved will sigh 'This man loved me' over his book.read · scan
Thomas De Quincey, Levana and Our Ladies of SorrowVol. 27
- p. 322Women left without love to shelter them, holy affections burning to waste.read · scan
- p. 324Sister commands to banish hope, wither love and keep woman's tenderness from him.read · scan
George Gordon, Lord Byron, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 799–801Love may sink by slow decay but hearts cannot be torn away suddenly; his enduring love despite rejection.read · scan
- p. 814–816In 'On This Day I Complete My Thirty-sixth Year' he laments that he cannot be beloved yet still asks to love.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, The CenciVol. 18
- p. 281–285Beatrice tells Orsino her love for him is turned to bitter pain and he is bound by priestly vows; she feels only sisterly love.read · scan
Hartley Coleridge, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 912Lover finds a plain maiden lovely once she smiled on him, and keeps loving despite her coldness.read · scan
Edward Robert Bulwer-Lytton, Earl of Lytton, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1119Lover who can only do nothing for the beloved prays she never sees the cost of his endurance.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 244Her devotion to the Prince makes her resolve he must not die.read · scan
- p. 244–246She kisses and saves the Prince, is unrecognized by him, and grows sorrowful and secretive in unrequited love.read · scan
- p. 246–247She pines for the Prince, embraces the statue resembling him, and watches his palace nightly.read · scan
- p. 247–248She loves mankind more and rejoices at having saved the Prince who knows nothing.read · scan
- p. 248Man's faithful love above father and mother is the condition for a soul; she resolves to win the Prince.read · scan
- p. 251–252She sacrifices her voice, her finest possession, hoping to win the Prince.read · scan
- p. 252–253She endures suffering and dumbness for the Prince, who does not know she gave up her voice for him.read · scan
- p. 253–254The Prince loves the dumb girl as a dear child but cannot see her as a wife; he loves the temple girl who saved him.read · scan
- p. 254–255She resolves to cherish him and give up her life, though he loves another and cannot love his bride-to-be.read · scan
- p. 255–256The Prince finds his rescuer in the Princess; the sea-maid's heart breaks knowing his wedding morning brings her death.read · scan
- p. 256She dances joyfully for the Prince while her heart is wounded, having given up everything for him unknowingly.read · scan
- p. 257–258She refuses to kill the sleeping Prince to save herself, kissing his brow and choosing her own death.read · scan
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 927–928She loves though unworthy, and says her love is only learned from his example; she renounces yet blesses him.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1026–1027He fears Maud will take a wanton dissolute boy for a leader of men.read · scan
William Makepeace Thackeray, Jonathan SwiftVol. 28
- p. 27Vanessa's ardent adoration of Swift kills her; Stella's hair, kept by Swift, shows pathetic love, fidelity and remorse.read · scan
Robert Browning, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1069–1070Rejected lover accepts friendship, asking to hold her hand and to ride once more.read · scan
- p. 1071–1072Riding with the beloved he never won, content in the present.read · scan
- p. 1078–1079Speaker mourns a girl of sixteen, despite age gap, insisting love unfulfilled here will be rewarded.read · scan
Robert Louis Stevenson, Truth of IntercourseVol. 28
- p. 282Loves perish when pride or shame keeps a lover silent at a critical point.read · scan
3e.Jealousy, inconstancy and betrayal
See also: Emotion 9c · Hypocrisy 4b · Duty 6d
Sophocles, AntigoneVol. 8
- p. 275–276Chorus reflects on love's fickle hopes; Creon speaks of a loved one proving worthless.read · scan
Euripides, HippolytusVol. 8
- p. 307–309Chorus guesses Theseus's infidelity or a lover's secret arms may be the queen's grief.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 152Aeneas loathes the charming land yet dreads how to tell the offended lover.read · scan
- p. 152Dido, sensing the flight, reproaches Aeneas with plighted vows and nuptial bond, begging pity for her love.read · scan
- p. 152–165Aeneas refuses to let love rise, though it heaves in his heart.read · scan
- p. 167Her murdered husband's shrine and Aeneas's disdain in dreams show love's torment.read · scan
- p. 167Dido laments her love betrayed and the faith promised by Aeneas.read · scan
- p. 167She embraces his garments and bed, 'pledges of my love,' before dying.read · scan
- p. 406–412Turnus's love is wrought to madness by jealousy.read · scan
Plutarch, AntonyVol. 12
- p. 362Cleopatra feigns wasting love, tears and languishing to hold Antony against Octavia's rival charm.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 46The wife once loved him excessively, would not eat or drink in his absence, yet betrays him.read · scan
- p. 48Her abject devotion to the slave contrasts with her hatred of her husband.read · scan
- p. 49–50The wife laments her wounded lover in verse, wishing burial beside him; love turns to cruelty.read · scan
- p. 51The enchantress mourns her lover in verse, lamenting her passion's evil.read · scan
- p. 51–52The enchantress's devotion to her supposed lover makes her scream with joy and obey his commands.read · scan
- p. 108–109The husband demands an oath of exclusive fidelity, and the wife's love takes entire possession of her heart.read · scan
- p. 111Her verses lament the lover's betrayed covenant, while the husband cannot tolerate a shared love.read · scan
Songs from the Elder EddaVol. 49
- p. 387–390Her love of Sigurd, chaste nights beside him, and the betrayal by Gudrun and the Giukingsread · scan
The Story of the Volsungs and NiblungsVol. 49
- p. 317–318Brynhild calls Sigurd her first troth-plight and well-beloved.read · scan
- p. 318–319Brynhild resents that Gudrun has the man she loved.read · scan
- p. 319–321Brynhild declares she loves only Gunnar, though Gudrun sees her heart looks beyond.read · scan
- p. 324–325Sigurd confesses he loved Brynhild better than himself; both lament the deceit that parted them.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 72–74Feigned-dead lady revives, smiling at her true-love; the doe loyally buries the slain knight and dies; the lady abandons him.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 314–316Reconciliation with embraces and amorous diversions, followed by the same quarrel and drubbing, repeated like clockwork.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 237–238Verses blame dire love, fortune and heaven for the lover's woes; a sonnet laments friendship displaced by deceit.read · scan
- p. 248Cardenio concludes little love and much ambition made her forget her promises.read · scan
- p. 501–503Despite her faults, all still adore her; Anselmo sings of her absence while Eugenio rails at women's inconstancy.read · scan
Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, A RenunciationVol. 40
- p. 289The speaker laments women's fickleness and men's folly in serving them, ending in self-mockery of flattery.read · scan
George Peele, Paris and OenoneVol. 40
- p. 217Oenone and Paris trade praise of love's fairness and repeat Cupid's curse on those who change old love for new.read · scan
A Sweet Lullaby; Preparations; The Unfaithful ShepherdessVol. 40
- p. 199–200Philon's song laments a fickle lover whose love lasted three days and passed to other shepherds.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, Edward the SecondVol. 46
- p. 62–63Kent denounces Isabella's feigned face of love that hatches death and hate.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 143–144Ophelia returns Hamlet's love-gifts, saying rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind; the King spies whether love afflicts him.read · scan
- p. 144–146Hamlet says he loved Ophelia once then denies it; she was deceived.read · scan
- p. 151–152Hamlet's quip that the prologue is brief as woman's love.read · scan
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies A-BleedingVol. 47
- p. 700Philaster's passionate love for Arethusa makes him deny her supposed infidelity and cry out in anguish.read · scan
- p. 704Bellario reports the princess's tenderness; Philaster tests whether she loves him by how she treats the boy.read · scan
- p. 704Philaster claims to hate Arethusa more than he loves happiness; Bellario's loyal love is wounded by his hate.read · scan
- p. 710–713Philaster says love cannot distinguish woman's confusion; Arethusa asks where a woman may find constancy.read · scan
- p. 713–715Arethusa is 'fool'd by her passion' and feels her love betrayed by a false page.read · scan
- p. 721Betrayed love drives Philaster's suspicion of Arethusa and Bellario; Arethusa would gladly die by his hand.read · scan
John Webster, The Duchess of MalfiVol. 47
- p. 781–783Cardinal's cynical seduction of Julia, claiming women are inconstant and he will love jealously.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 892–895Allworth, jealous, offers to release Lovell's trust, content only to serve and look on her chastely.read · scan
Waly, Waly; Helen of Kirconnell; My Love in Her Attire; Love Not MeVol. 40
- p. 323–324Forsaken lover laments that love is fair while new but grows cold when old; grief at the beloved's faithlessness and Helen's death.read · scan
John Milton, Samson AgonistesVol. 4
- p. 415Dalila and the woman of Timna betrayed Samson despite professed nuptial love.read · scan
- p. 415Dalila pleads jealous love as motive; Samson says love seeks love and calls it lust and rage.read · scan
- p. 415Dalila says love for Samson long struggled against demands.read · scan
- p. 415Chorus muses that woman's love is won by no merit and is hard to explain; Samson notes wedlock-treachery differs from love-quarrels.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 233–237Lovers Valere and Mariane quarrel bitterly, each accusing the other of faithless love when told of the Tartuffe match.read · scan
John Dryden, Dedication of the AeneisVol. 13
- p. 28–29Aeneas accused of being false to love in forsaking Dido; a bad precedent for lovers.read · scan
- p. 31Aeneas still loved Dido and struggled against his inclination; inconstancy and ingratitude after favor are unforgivable.read · scan
- p. 32–34Aeneas false to love; Dido injured and revengeful; Mercury's remark on woman's fickleness.read · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 61–65Antony torn between pity for Octavia and Cleopatra, who would die with him.read · scan
- p. 65–66Cleopatra, hearing Octavia has won Antony, feels the pangs of death and jealous longing, and asks whether her rival is fair.read · scan
- p. 67Octavia and Cleopatra quarrel over Antony, each claiming to love him best and to have suffered more.read · scan
- p. 77Antony's persisting passion for Cleopatra wounds Octavia, who leaves; Alexas pleads Cleopatra's love for Antony.read · scan
- p. 77–81Antony cannot bear that Cleopatra's heart may have changed; he curses Alexas for saying so.read · scan
- p. 81–84Antony recounts giving half the world for Cleopatra's love and rages at her and Dolabella's betrayal.read · scan
- p. 84Cleopatra pleads that a loving woman will do anything to keep her lover; her feigning failed because of her true love.read · scan
- p. 84Cleopatra says she loves Antony more now he is unkind; Antony weeps at parting yet cannot forgive.read · scan
- p. 88Cleopatra's jealous, wounded love for Antony; Alexas says Antony's heart is only hiding in jealousy, love's last retreat.read · scan
Jean Racine, PhaedraVol. 26
- p. 180–181Phaedra learns Hippolytus loves Aricia; her unrequited passion turns to jealousy and wonder that he is tamed by another.read · scan
- p. 186–188Hippolytus proposes a sacred marriage vow; Theseus mocks his supposed inconstant love.read · scan
Lady Grisel Baillie, Werena My Heart Licht I Wad DeeVol. 40
- p. 398–399A jilted maiden laments her lover, whose kin and sister broke the match; he pines in grief.read · scan
Voltaire, Letters on the EnglishVol. 34
- p. 136Mistress loves captain to excess while he ignores her and gives his heart to a perfidious coquette.read · scan
James Thomson, Rule, Britannia; To FortuneVol. 40
- p. 442–443The lover accuses Fortune of parting true hearts and binding loveless vows, and prays for his beloved.read · scan
Adam Austin, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 532–533A lover laments his faithless sweetheart who left him and swears never to love again.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 333–334Werner jokes that soldiers in winter quarters form brief liaisons which women take for life, leaving rings.read · scan
- p. 370–371Suspicion of Minna's faithlessness over the ring threatens the lovers.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hermann and DorotheaVol. 19
- p. 383–384Hermann, tormented by doubt and suspicion, fears the maiden's heart is already given to another despite the good news.read · scan
Lady Anne Lindsay, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 557–558Jennie loves Jamie but marries Robin Gray; return of her true love leaves her grieving.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 133–134Bard adores women despite their fickleness, humble slave to the fair, loves one lass best.read · scan
- p. 182–184The girl still toasts her faithless lover and longs for his kisses.read · scan
- p. 196–198Lament over a faithless woman's broken vow, remembering the raptured hours of mutual love.read · scan
- p. 400–401Betrayed love: a false lover steals the rose and leaves the thorn; bard mourns his noble masterread · scan
- p. 413–415Damon and Sylvia's love deemed no crime; Jock Rab heartbroken by faithless Eppieread · scan
- p. 453–455A woman longs for her wandering lover; another, forsaken by faithless Lord Gregory, pleads at his door.read · scan
- p. 467–469Lovers' vows, secret trysting and betrayal by a false lover.read · scan
- p. 474–476Fair Jenny's wound, Nancy vowed to, and love called life's sun; cynical warning against fickle women.read · scan
- p. 536–538A fickle wooer's false vows versus the true lover who recognizes 'kind love in her e'e' beyond mere beauty.read · scan
William Wordsworth, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 610–612He truly loved Ruth and was briefly renewed by her, yet deserts her.read · scan
Sir Walter Scott, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 742–744Ballads of love betrayed, a lover's departure, and Mary pining until her heart is broken while watching for her returning lover.read · scan
- p. 751–752Lochinvar wins the bride with a dance and an elopement; love swells like the Solway but ebbs like its tide.read · scan
Walter Savage Landor, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 900–902A maiden pains over a false lover's vows; the poet's Ianthe and love of other years.read · scan
J. Campbell, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 782Love is sweet at its beginning but fickle and impermanent, coming and going as fate or fancy carries; it cannot be bound.read · scan
George Gordon, Lord Byron, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 787–789Poems of parted, betrayed and admiring love, with buried love still dear in memory.read · scan
John Keats, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 893–895The knight is enthralled by a faery lady's feigned love and left in anguish.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 975–976Brief is life but love is long; small unfaith spoils love as a rift in the lute.read · scan
- p. 979–981Narrator and cousin Amy avow love, then it is betrayed when she marries another.read · scan
William Makepeace Thackeray, Jonathan SwiftVol. 28
- p. 8Swift's tender friendship with Hester Johnson, Vanessa's violent passion for him, and his return to his ailing wife.read · scan
- p. 27Swift received much love but shrank from all affections, fleeing his friends and unable to see Stella and Vanessa die.read · scan
Algernon Charles Swinburne, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1202–1204Love reposes well, but in the end it is not well.read · scan
- p. 1204–1206Loves wither and none endure; then lyrical wishes of lovers as rose and leaf, words and tune.read · scan
- p. 1208–1209Lovers boast their love will outlast roses, but love dies; even deep love must wither and end in the grave.read · scan
3f.Fidelity and constancy in love
See also: Life and Death 8d · Family 3c · Time 6d
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 72Odysseus sleeps with Calypso unwilling, though she is willing; the nymph no longer pleases him.read · scan
- p. 72–73Odysseus' desire for his wife day by day against Calypso's offer.read · scan
- p. 73–74Odysseus prefers mortal Penelope, though less comely, to the goddess, and longs for home, though he shares Calypso's bed.read · scan
Sophocles, AntigoneVol. 8
- p. 276Haemon's devotion to Antigone leads him to defy his father.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 109–111Coroebus fights out of love for Cassandra and desire for renown.read · scan
- p. 207–210Aeneas cites Orpheus and Pollux, who braved the underworld for wife and brother.read · scan
Plutarch, AntonyVol. 12
- p. 381Cleopatra hauls the dying Antony up to the monument and laments, forgetting her own evils in his misfortunes.read · scan
- p. 386Cleopatra's lament at Antony's tomb: nothing parted them in life and she begs to be buried with him.read · scan
- p. 386Her letter begs burial in the same tomb as Antony.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 77Lovers communicate by glances; the lady refuses to betray him and he refuses to kill her.read · scan
- p. 130–131The wife, learning that he lost his hand and wealth through love of her, vows never to desert him and gives him everything.read · scan
- p. 131–132She declares that giving her life for love of him would be small recompense, and gives him all her goods.read · scan
- p. 410–411The princess remains faithful, giving the Moor only tears despite his wooing and false report of her husband's death.read · scan
Songs from the Elder EddaVol. 49
- p. 383–386She asks that the sword that lay between her and Sigurd as man and wife be laid between themread · scan
- p. 421–423Her devotion to Sigurd remains her best love, recalling his promise to come from Hell.read · scan
The Song of RolandVol. 49
- p. 185–187Roland's betrothed Alda cannot live without him and dies, honored by Karl.read · scan
The Story of the Volsungs and NiblungsVol. 49
- p. 255–256The tale is of utter love defeated and grief too strong to let love die; it urges kindness and love despite loss.read · scan
- p. 309–310Sigurd and Brynhild swear oaths anew; he declares he will have her or no woman, finding separation worse than a sword-stroke.read · scan
- p. 337She asks to lie beside Sigurd with the sword between, to be named man and wife.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 51–53Lady Margret elopes with Lord William and stays loyal to him despite the slaughter of her kin.read · scan
- p. 53–55Lovers die together; rose and briar from their graves entwine, showing love enduring past death.read · scan
- p. 59–60Hind Horn and the princess exchange rings as love tokens; he returns in disguise to reclaim her.read · scan
- p. 61–62Bride offers to beg with Hind Horn; Thomas and Annet's love is tested by his family's advice.read · scan
- p. 62–64Lord Thomas forgets his bride at Annet's beauty; he dies beside her in loyalty.read · scan
- p. 64–66Lovers united in death as trees intertwine; Fair Annie sails the sea to reach Love Gregor and pleads at his door, citing love-tokens.read · scan
- p. 70–72Lady learns her lover will die for her sake and resolves to go to him in Scotland.read · scan
- p. 78–79Margret refuses to release the dead Sanders from his troth and follows him, loyal beyond death.read · scan
- p. 84–85Shusy Pye frees Young Bicham, waits seven years and crosses the sea only to find him newly wed.read · scan
- p. 86–87Young Bicham embraces Shusy Pye, who suffered for him, and abandons his new bride to marry his first true love.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 120Quixote resolves to stay loyal to Dulcinea even against the seductions of a queen.read · scan
- p. 120He courts her yet declines, bound by his promised faith to Dulcinea.read · scan
- p. 125He tells of the castle lord's daughter's amorous speech while stating his fidelity to Dulcinea.read · scan
- p. 203–204Cardenio eagerly agrees, moved by love of Lucinda and his natural attachment to his country.read · scan
- p. 243–244Lucinda's letter tests whether Cardenio loves her, as she is to be married against her wishes.read · scan
- p. 244Lucinda vows to die with a poniard rather than wed Fernando; Cardenio pledges to defend her with sword or his life.read · scan
- p. 262–264Lucinda's paper declares she is Cardenio's wife; Fernando and Cardenio each despair, one in violence, one in exile.read · scan
- p. 283Don Quixote vows to serve the princess but declares his memory, will and understanding are captive to Dulcinea, so he cannot marry another.read · scan
- p. 294Quixote keeps faith with Dulcinea's secrecy and refuses to marry for a crown.read · scan
- p. 357Lucinda pleads constancy to her true spouse Cardenio, preferring death to yielding to Fernando's importunity.read · scan
- p. 361Dorothea begs Fernando to let the two true lovers enjoy their desires.read · scan
- p. 361Fernando embraces Dorothea, acknowledging her constancy and faith, and blesses Lucinda's union with Cardenio.read · scan
- p. 364Fernando recounts abducting Lucinda from the convent, where she would stay unless she could be with Cardenio.read · scan
- p. 401They would risk their lives to protect Zoraida; he offers again to marry her.read · scan
- p. 422Captive's devotion to Zoraida, admiring her patience in poverty and her desire for Christianity, and vowing lifelong service.read · scan
- p. 436Quixote, deluded that the innkeeper's daughter loves him, refuses her out of fidelity to Dulcinea, mistress of his soul.read · scan
Edmund Spenser, Prefatory Letter to Sir Walter Raleigh on the Faerie QueeneVol. 39
- p. 64–65Scudamour seeks to rescue his lady Amoretta from the enchanter Busirane; Britomart succours him and frees his love.read · scan
Edmund Spenser, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 250–251Lover's devotion; hopes their love will live beyond death.read · scan
Samuel Daniel, Beauty, Time, and Love: Sonnets; To SleepVol. 40
- p. 220–221The lover's faith will endure when her beauty wanes; she may repent scorning him.read · scan
- p. 222Speaker affirms he lived and loved her dearly; his youthful love shows in the poems.read · scan
Joshua Sylvester, Love's OmnipresenceVol. 40
- p. 314Lover's love stays constant whatever the difference in station or place, following the beloved anywhere.read · scan
William Shakespeare, Songs and SonnetsVol. 40
- p. 279–280True love survives fears, absence and infidelity; the beloved is the poet's all and a god in love.read · scan
- p. 280–281Love is an ever-fixed mark, not altering with time; the pity of a friend cures the poet's shame.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, Edward the SecondVol. 46
- p. 27–29The lady is reported faithful to her lover Gaveston despite his banishment.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The TempestVol. 46
- p. 443Ferdinand's trials were tests of his love, which he has passed.read · scan
Thomas Campion, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 286–287True love remains free and cannot be caught or defeated by jealousy, suspicion or spying.read · scan
Thomas Dekker, The Shoemaker's HolidayVol. 47
- p. 505Hammon woos Jane, describing love's lunacy and his suffering, while she refuses him out of faithfulness.read · scan
- p. 505Hammon proposes honest marriage; Jane insists on constancy to her husband and is shaken by news of his death.read · scan
- p. 514–515Rose vows that love gave strength to bear her father's hate and will add wings to their escape.read · scan
John Donne, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 312–313Lovers make one little room an everywhere; two loves that are one cannot slacken or die; absence cannot alter true hearts.read · scan
Ben Jonson, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 294–297A beloved of harmonious beauty and faithful love would make any generous mind refuse to betray her.read · scan
John Fletcher, Aspatia's Song; MelancholyVol. 40
- p. 321–322Aspatia's song: her love was false but she died true and firm.read · scan
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies A-BleedingVol. 47
- p. 704–708Bellario would love the limbs cut from him; Philaster relents, keeping love for the boy's honest looks.read · scan
- p. 731Arethusa and Bellario cling to Philaster and offer to die with him, loyal and forgiving in loveread · scan
- p. 744Bellario confesses chaste love for Philaster, disguised as a page to remain near him; the play ends in reconciliations and betrothals.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Dr. John DonneVol. 15
- p. 339Closing lines: the wife's firmness makes the roaming lover's circle just and brings him home to where he began.read · scan
Thomas Carew, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 351–352Lasting love rests on steadfast mind and equal hearts, not fading cheeks; the lover craves love or disdain, not calm.read · scan
Pierre Corneille, PolyeucteVol. 26
- p. 81Pauline still adores the memory of Severus while being a faithful wife to Polyeucte.read · scan
- p. 90Pauline's love for Severus survives beneath duty; Severus finds her control cruel.read · scan
- p. 90–93Pauline confesses to her husband that Severus's charm still stirs her heart.read · scan
- p. 115Severus adores Pauline and cannot understand her husband renouncing her; Pauline refuses to wed Severus yet asks him to save her husband.read · scan
James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, My Dear and Only LoveVol. 40
- p. 358–359The lover demands sole faithful devotion from his beloved, promising fame and service in return.read · scan
Richard Lovelace, To Lucasta, on Going to the Wars; To Althea from Prison; To Lucasta, Going Beyond the SeasVol. 40
- p. 354–356Love and faith transcend separation, bondage and seas; lovers meet above the sphere as angels greet.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 229Mariane avows devoted love for Valere; Dorine asks what love is worth without courage.read · scan
- p. 231–232Mariane, in love with Valere, begs help to break off the forced match with Tartuffe.read · scan
- p. 242–245Mariane vows that no one but Valere shall have her.read · scan
- p. 264–266Mariane pleads to keep her love for the man she has chosen.read · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 77Antony defends Cleopatra against Ventidius's insinuations of infidelity, showing his lingering love.read · scan
- p. 103She dresses as bride of Antony to meet him again, going with such a will to find her lord.read · scan
- p. 103–105Serapion's epitaph: no lovers lived so great or died so well; she died pleased with him for whom she lived.read · scan
Jean Racine, PhaedraVol. 26
- p. 185–186Hippolytus and Aricia's love; she would gladly share his exile.read · scan
- p. 191–193Aricia arrives to marry him and collapses at his body.read · scan
John Gay, Love in Her Eyes Sits Playing; Black-Eyed SusanVol. 40
- p. 402–403Lovers' fidelity: William pledges constancy to Susan at parting, seeing her charms in every object.read · scan
George Halket, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 571–572A lass remains faithful to poor Jamie, keeping half of his broken sixpence and awaiting his return.read · scan
William Hamilton of Bangour, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 572–574The bride has lost her true lover and cannot love her new husband, his slayer.read · scan
- p. 574–576The bride refuses to love her lover's slayer and welcomes the corpse of her true love to her bed.read · scan
Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to ConquerVol. 18
- p. 210–211Constance stays constant to Hastings and pretends affection for Tony to deceive his mother.read · scan
- p. 255–257Hastings and Miss Neville pledge constancy through separation, hoping for future happiness; Hastings laments being so near happiness.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 319–320Minna recognises her ring and eagerly offers all her money to free Tellheim from creditors.read · scan
- p. 343–344Minna sees Tellheim's refusals as proof of his love, yet plots to test him by feigning misfortune.read · scan
- p. 350–351Franziska's fondness for her Sergeant; Minna swaps rings with Tellheim's as part of her scheme.read · scan
- p. 358–359Minna feigns breaking the engagement, saying true love demands neither make the other unhappy; Tellheim is shocked.read · scan
- p. 361–363Tellheim insists his love and fidelity are unshaken by Minna's supposed loss, and gives back the ring as pledge.read · scan
- p. 364–365Tellheim resolves to support Minna, whom he holds more precious than himself, and to seek fortune elsewhere.read · scan
Hector Macneil, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 576–577A girl plights her troth to Jamie; a true heart is worth more than gear.read · scan
Susanna Blamire, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 580A girl refuses silk and silver to abandon Donald, pledged troth; breaking it would be worse than theft.read · scan
John Logan, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 500–501A woman's devotion to her drowned lover, whom she resolves to join in death; faithful romantic love beyond the grave.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Tragedy of Faust, Part IVol. 19
- p. 118–119The Thule ballad tells of a king faithful to the grave, cherishing his dying mistress's gift.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, EgmontVol. 19
- p. 316–318Clara's love for Egmont and the people's former love for him drive her plea; love and courage would unite the multitude.read · scan
- p. 318Brackenburg's devotion and Clara's love for Egmont lead her to defy propriety and abandon her modest life.read · scan
- p. 320Clara's devotion to Egmont and her anguish at being unable to aid him.read · scan
- p. 331–332Egmont commends his beloved maiden and his faithful servant to Ferdinand's protection.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hermann and DorotheaVol. 19
- p. 369–370Hermann defends the exiled maiden he loves to his father, praising her selfless devotion and hoping to find happiness with her as wife.read · scan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for ScandalVol. 18
- p. 191–192Maria resigns Charles to Lady Sneerwell's claim, showing her attachment and generosity.read · scan
Thomas Chatterton, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 558–559The maid's faithful love for her dead sweetheart, whose beauty and gifts she recalls.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 30–32Lover vows eternal faithfulness to blue-eyed Mary, and pleads for her pity, longing for her above all else.read · scan
- p. 91–94Speaker's love for Jean will endure across mountains, deserts and oceans, dearer than his soul.read · scan
- p. 124–126Her fidelity returns to her soldier laddie; toasts him.read · scan
- p. 200–202Songs of faithful, sworn devotion to Mary and the Highland lassie despite separationread · scan
- p. 254–256Wishes that each lover prove faithful to a young woman, despite men's charge of guile.read · scan
- p. 287–289The poet adores Peggy's heart and worth; losing her would be a stronger death than death itself.read · scan
- p. 314–316Speaker declares devoted love for his beloved, living only to love her, defying distance and time.read · scan
- p. 407–408Lover swears constancy, tying a posie with the band of love to his dear Mayread · scan
- p. 417–418Lover's constancy to Bell and tender devotion to sleeping Maryread · scan
- p. 430–432Constant love for the distant beloved; also a coquette's fickle favours and a wife's quarrel.read · scan
- p. 457–459Faithful Nancy welcomes her disguised soldier; true lovers are rewarded.read · scan
- p. 480–482'My Luve's like a red, red rose' pledges love till seas run dry.read · scan
- p. 496–499Lover's devotion to Chloris and his bonie Dearie: 'I can die but canna part'; willing chains of love.read · scan
Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 560–561Love that keeps true whatever betide, sacrificing all for the prince.read · scan
William Wordsworth, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 620–628The true-love is grieved by the speaker's seeming scorn of Yarrow.read · scan
- p. 674–676Faithful love recalls the dead beloved to mind.read · scan
Sir Walter Scott, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 740–742A lost love's pledge would have tamed his wild heart; the bride flees with her true love, and lovers are parted by death.read · scan
- p. 749–751Young Lochinvar, faithful in love and dauntless in war, arrives to carry off his beloved bride from another match.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 34Thought of Lucia and hopes of their future check his violent designs.read · scan
- p. 34–36Renzo's trust in Lucia's fidelity, though puzzled she never told her betrothed.read · scan
- p. 389Her love for Renzo pulls against the vow.read · scan
- p. 430–431Lucia's heart still secretly clings to Renzo, seen in her concern for his welfare.read · scan
- p. 438–440Renzo's impassioned inquiries about Lucia and pleas to keep plighted faith.read · scan
- p. 440–441Renzo refuses to forget Lucia; Lucia's image creeps into every thought despite her resolutions to forget him.read · scan
- p. 441–442Donna Prassede's slander of Renzo revives Lucia's esteem, pity and affection; she defends him and dissolves in tears.read · scan
- p. 584–585Renzo's devotion to Lucia after twenty months' separation, and his fear she is dead or will not have him.read · scan
- p. 585–586Renzo's faithful, persevering affection for Lucia is praised as blessed by God.read · scan
- p. 598–599Renzo insists on his constancy and their earlier promises; Lucia hoped he would forget her.read · scan
- p. 599–600Renzo presses whether she still loves him; she sends him away in tears, hoping to meet above.read · scan
- p. 602–603Renzo declares he cannot forget Lucia and will never be at rest; he pleads against her rejection.read · scan
- p. 603Renzo vows to return from the world's end; Lucia weeps and begs him to go.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 69The blinded prince laments his lost wife for years; love reunites them and Rapunzel's tears restore his sight.read · scan
- p. 120Long devoted search and joyful reunion of husband and wife.read · scan
- p. 189The lovers' halved ring is rejoined, and he embraces her.read · scan
- p. 197The youngest daughter comforts the despairing prince, urging him to eat and combing his hair.read · scan
- p. 198The princess helps her beloved through kindness and comfort, rescuing him from death.read · scan
- p. 199The princess again rescues her beloved from his plight, and he is as happy as a bird.read · scan
- p. 201The maiden's faithful devotion wins back her beloved, who begs her forgiveness and marries her.read · scan
George Gordon, Lord Byron, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 785–787Speaker's love for the dead beloved endures beyond death, untouched by age, rival or falsehood.read · scan
- p. 789–791Love is glory; a faithful beloved who shared his grief and never saw his faults.read · scan
- p. 791–792Praises a constant beloved who never deceived, forsook or defamed him, and a sister's enduring devotion.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 294–295He never turns his eyes from the Dancing Lady, ignoring the Goblin's warning.read · scan
- p. 296–297The Dancer's faithfulness moves the soldier nearly to tears.read · scan
- p. 297Soldier and Dancer look at each other; he melts into a tin heart and only her burnt tinsel rose remains.read · scan
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 924Speaker declares that neither men, seas nor tempests could part the lovers, yet feels unworthy beside a princely poet.read · scan
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1299–1300A woman's devotion is the subject of the Acadian tale: affection that hopes, endures and is patient.read · scan
- p. 1318–1320Evangeline stays faithful to Gabriel; the priest says affection is never wasted, returning like rain to its fountain.read · scan
- p. 1334Her love becomes patient, self-denying devotion to others; Gabriel transfigured in memory, not changed by years.read · scan
- p. 1336–1337Lifelong faithful love ends in reunion at death; she kisses his dying lips and thanks the Father.read · scan
Edgar Allan Poe, The Poetic PrincipleVol. 28
- p. 384–385Moore's lines express constant love through joy and torment, glory and shame, regardless of guilt.read · scan
- p. 387–389Byron's lines honor a loved one's faithful heart that refused to see his faults.read · scan
- p. 389–391A woman's unwavering love in adversity is the noble theme; the poem shows fidelity consoling a man against the world.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 981–982He cannot stop loving her: love is love for evermore.read · scan
Edgar Allan Poe, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1237–1239Annie's tender love and prayers comfort him; love of Annabel Lee stronger than love of others, envied by seraphs.read · scan
- p. 1239–1241Lovers' love stronger than that of the wiser and older; neither angels nor demons can sever his soul from Annabel Lee.read · scan
William Makepeace Thackeray, Jonathan SwiftVol. 28
- p. 23Stella loved and injured by Swift; her faithful love, constancy and sweet martyrdom are mourned by generations.read · scan
Robert Browning, A Blot in the 'ScutcheonVol. 18
- p. 388Guendolen offers loving friendship; Mildred says her love for her lover is her only prop against guilt.read · scan
- p. 392Dying Mertoun's last thoughts are of Mildred; he says 'I love her' and entrusts his message to her.read · scan
Matthew Arnold, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1138–1139Lovers urged to be true to one another amid a joyless, lightless world.read · scan
Alexander Smith, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1146–1147A man remains faithful to dead Barbara, whose face he glimpses in church, and longs for her teaching.read · scan
Robert Louis Stevenson, Truth of IntercourseVol. 28
- p. 283–284In intimacies one must fight for truth; a strong affection survives doubt because the lover's heart is the advocate.read · scan
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