The Book of Scottish Song/I'll never love thee more

I’ll never love thee more.

[This is generally ascribed to James Graham, "the great marquis of Montrose," who was executed at Edinburgh by the covenanting party, on the 21st May, 1650. It appears in Watson's Choice Collection of Scots Poems, Edinburgh 1711, where is also given what is called a Second Part, consisting of thirteen stanzas, but seemingly written by another hand. Among Cavaliers and Jacobites it was much admired, and used to be sung to the old tune of "Chevy Chace."]

My dear and only love, I pray
⁠That little world of thee
Be govern'd by no other sway,
⁠But purest monarchy:
For if confusion have n part,
⁠Which virtuous souls abhor,
I'll call a synod in my heart
⁠And never love thee more.

As Alexander I will reign,
⁠And I will reign alone,
My thoughts did evermore disdain
⁠A rival on my throne.
He either fears his fate too much,
⁠Or his deserts are small,
Who dares not put it to the touch,
To gain or lose it all.

But I will reign, and govern still,
⁠And always give the law,
And have each subject at my will,
⁠And all to stand in awe:
But 'gainst my batt'ries if I find
⁠Thou storm or vex me sore,
As if thou set me as a blind,
⁠I'll never love thee more.

And in the empire of thy heart,
⁠Where I should solely be,
If others should pretend a part,
⁠Or dare to share with me;
Or committees if thou erect,
⁠Or go on such a score,
I'll smiling mock at thy neglect,
⁠And never love thee more.

But if no faithless action stain
⁠Thy love and constant word,
I'll make thee famous by my pen,
⁠And glorious by my sword.
I'll serve thee in such noble ways,
⁠As ne'er were known before;
I'll deck and crown my head with bays,
⁠And love thee evermore.

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