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Poem
May 5, 1895
Birmingham Age Herald
Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama
What is this article about?
A lyrical poem addressing a beloved, pondering her fairness and truthfulness in love, expressing doubt and jealousy but ultimately affirming devotion and eternal companionship. By Samuel Waddington, published in Athenaeum.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
"IF THOU WERT TRUE AS FAIR."
If thou were true as thou art fair,
Love should for thee thy burden bear;
No service would his heart disdain,
Or deem it idle or in vain:
But fare thee well, too fair art thou;
So fare thee well forever now.
If thou were mine and mine alone,
Then shouldst thou reign upon love's throne;
But other hands may thine caress,
And other lips those lips may press;
So fare thee well! Unfair art thou.
Go, fare thee well forever now.
If thou a goddess wert divine,
Should all men worship at thy shrine?
Nay, prithee, think—is there not one
Who from thine altar would pass on,
Crying, "Fare thee well, mere fairy thou,
Nay, fare thee well forever now?"
Yet tell me, thou, my own, my queen,
Art true as thou hast ever been,
And I thy servant still shall be,
Nor doubting, sing this song to thee
Of "Fare thee well," but, "Fair art thou,"
And "With me fare forever now."
—Samuel Waddington in Athenaeum.
If thou were true as thou art fair,
Love should for thee thy burden bear;
No service would his heart disdain,
Or deem it idle or in vain:
But fare thee well, too fair art thou;
So fare thee well forever now.
If thou were mine and mine alone,
Then shouldst thou reign upon love's throne;
But other hands may thine caress,
And other lips those lips may press;
So fare thee well! Unfair art thou.
Go, fare thee well forever now.
If thou a goddess wert divine,
Should all men worship at thy shrine?
Nay, prithee, think—is there not one
Who from thine altar would pass on,
Crying, "Fare thee well, mere fairy thou,
Nay, fare thee well forever now?"
Yet tell me, thou, my own, my queen,
Art true as thou hast ever been,
And I thy servant still shall be,
Nor doubting, sing this song to thee
Of "Fare thee well," but, "Fair art thou,"
And "With me fare forever now."
—Samuel Waddington in Athenaeum.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
Song
What themes does it cover?
Love Courtship
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Love
Fidelity
Beauty
Farewell
Devotion
What entities or persons were involved?
—Samuel Waddington In Athenaeum.
Poem Details
Title
"If Thou Wert True As Fair."
Author
—Samuel Waddington In Athenaeum.
Key Lines
If Thou Were True As Thou Art Fair,
So Fare Thee Well Forever Now.
Yet Tell Me, Thou, My Own, My Queen,
And "With Me Fare Forever Now."