Vii

And even if you loved me not, If you but knew the pain I feel When you but breathe a word that's harsh, When you betray the faintest frown; And when you mock me for my love, Or chide me for the least caress, If you but knew the pain I feel.

Aye, even if you loved me not, You ne'er would frown at me or mock My love for you, or harshly speak, Or bid me not to kiss your hand; Instead you'd treat me as a child, You'd treat me as a child that's sick, And patiently you would submit To my caress; you would allow My feverish hands to stroke your hair, My quivering lips to kiss your brow, My famished eyes to feast on you, And my delirious heart to spin: To spin a spider's web of love, To make your heart its captive fly.

Aye, even if you loved me not, If you but knew the pain I feel, Whene'er I think you love me not, You'd treat me as a little child; You'd tell me love's sweet fairy tale, I will believe love's fairy tale. Please tell me love's sweet fairy tale, Aye, even if you love me not.