Fond Love, True Love

From the 1899 comic opera “The Ameer.”
Words by Frederic Ranken.
Music by Victor Herbert.

The sheet music:

Fond-Love-True-Love – Sheet MusicDownload

Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:

Fond_Love_True_Love – MIDIDownload

Lyrics

  1. In gentle spring the birdlets sing:
    “I love thee,” “I love thee”
    The whisp’ring breeze sighs through the trees:
    “I love thee,” “I love thee”
    The flow’rets fair so soft declare:
    “I love thee,” “I love thee”
    To nature’s strain this sweet refrain:
    “I love but thee”

Chorus
Fond love, true love, Tell thy secret, pray
Where in nature’s hiding? Art thou concealed today?
Art thou coy, love? Spread sweet incense o’er all
Awaken, then, and list to hear, To hear thy subjects call

  1. Ah, maiden coy, I sing with joy:
    “I love thee,” “I love thee”
    Pray murmur “yes” as I confess
    “I love thee,” “I love thee”
    E’er love’s sweet day has passed away:
    “I love thee,” “I love thee”
    Now open thy ruby lips and say:
    “I love but thee”

Sung here by Vancha March: