Sentimental Romantic Poems

LOVE

Didst thou but know the inly touch of love,
Thou wouldst as soon go kindle fire with snow,
As seek to quench the fire of love with words.

Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act ii. Sc SHAKESPEARE

There's a bliss beyond all that the minstrel has told,
When two, that are linked in one heavenly tie.
With heart never changing, and brow never cold
Love on through all ills, and love on till they die!
One hour of a passion so sacred is worth
Whole ages of heartless and wandering bliss;
And O, if there be an Elysium on earth,
It is this, it is this.

Lalla Rookh: Light of the Harem T. MOORE

Love is the tyrant of the heart; it darkens
Reason, confounds discretion; deaf to counsel
It runs a headlong course to desperate madness

The Lover's Melancholy, Act iii. Sc FORD

Ask not of me. Love, what is love?
Ask what is good of God above;
Ask of the great sun what is light;
Ask what is darkness of the night;
Ask sin of what may be forgiven;
Ask what is happiness of heaven;
Ask what is folly of the crowd;
Ask what is fashion of the shroud;
Ask what is sweetness of thy kiss;
Ask of thyself what beauty is

Festus, Sc. Party and Entertainment P.J. BAILEY

All love is sweet,
Given or returned. Common as light is love,
And its familiar voice wearies not ever.

Love is a celestial harmony Of likely hearts.

There's beggary in the love that can be reckoned.

Antony and Cleopatra, Act i. ScSHAKESPEARE

Like Dian's kiss, unasked, unsought,
Love gives itself, but is not bought.

Endymion H.W. LONGFELLOW.

It is not virtue, wisdom, valor, wit,
Strength, comeliness of shape, or amplest merit
That woman's love can win, or long inherit
But what it is, hard is to say,
Harder to hit.

Samson Agonistes MILTON

Love sought is good, but given unsought is better

Twelfth Night, Act ii. Sc SHAKESPEARE

Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul

Rape of the Lock, Canto V A. POPE

Why did she love him? Curious fool!--be still--
Is human love the growth of human will?

Lara, Canto II LORD BYRON

I know not why I love this youth; and I have heard you say, Love's reason's without reason.

Love goes toward love as school-boys from their books,
But love from love, toward school with heavy looks

Romeo and Juliet, Act ii. ScSHAKESPEARE

Divine is Love and scorneth worldly pelf,
And can be bought with nothing but with self.

Love the Only Price of Love SIR W. RALEIGH.

Love like a shadow flies when substance love pursues;
Pursuing that flies, and flying what pursues.

Merry Wives of Windsor, Act ii. ScSHAKESPEARE.

Love, whose month is ever May,
Spied a blossom passing fair
Playing in the wanton air:
Through the velvet leaves the wind,
All unseen can passage find;
That the lover, sick to death.
Wish himself the heaven's breath.

Affection is a coal that must be cooled;
Else, suffered, it will set the heart on fire.

Venus and Adonis SHAKESPEARE

In all amours a lover burns
With frowns, as well as smiles, by turns;
And hearts have been as oft with sullen,
As charming looks, surprised and stolen

Hudibras, Pt. III. Canto I S. BUTLER

Mysterious love, uncertain treasure,
Hast thou more of pain or pleasure!

In only one couplet, Samuel Butler pretty much nailed romantic love, didn't he? -Ed

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