The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name
inspired by Two Loves
by Lord Alfred Douglas (1870-1945)
(Written in 1892, published in 1894)
(NARRATOR:)
‘Sweet youth, tell me why, sad and sighing,
Thou dost rove these pleasent realms?’
‘What is thy name?’
‘My name is Love.’
‘He lieth!’
‘For his name is Shame!’
‘I am true Love!
I fill the hearts of boy and girl with mutual flame.’
(Sigh)
‘Have thy will,
I am the love that dare not speak its name!’
(PART 1, LYRICS:)
I dreamed I stood upon a little hill,
And at my feet there lay a ground,
That seemed like a waste garden,
Flowering at its will with buds and blossoms.
There were pools that dreamed black and
unruffled;
There were white lilies a few, and crocuses,
And violets purple or pale.
I stood long, all mazed to see a place so strange,
So sweet, so fair.
(NARRATOR: )
(Sigh)
‘And as I stood and marvelled,’
‘Across the garden came a youth;’
‘Caught my hand and kissed my mouth,
And gave me grapes to eat, and said,
“Sweet friend, come I will show shee
Shadows of the world and images of life.
See from the South Comes
The pale pageant that hath never an end.”’
(PART 2, LYRICS:)
Within the garden of my dream,
I saw two walking on a shining plain
Of golden light.
The one did joyous seem and fair and blooming;
He sang of pretty maids and joyous love
Of comely girl and boy.
But his comrade walked aside,
He was full sad and sweet,
Sighed with many sighs.
When I did behold,
I fell a-weeping, and I cried.
Sweet youth, tell me why?
What is thy name?
I’m the Love!
I’m the Love!
(PART 3, LYRICS:)
I dreamed I stood upon a little hill.
I am the love that dare not speak its name.