Since thou, O fondest

Song Meaning

This poem opens with a direct address, establishing a profound sense of gratitude towards a beloved figure. The narrator immediately highlights the enduring nature of this affection, noting that this person has loved them "best and longest." This sets a tone of deep appreciation, suggesting a relationship that has weathered time and grown stronger, culminating in a "joy of my heart renewest." The central tension emerges from the contrast between this unwavering love and the perceived fading of affection from others. The narrator observes that "other hearts grow colder" while their beloved's love becomes "dearer and dearer." This comparison isn't just about quantity of love, but its quality and increasing intensity, as the beloved "more lovingly drawest nearer" even as their shared history "is older." The third stanza reveals a deeper realization: the beloved was not merely a recipient of affection, but an active participant in the narrator's very sense of self and happiness. The narrator sees the beloved as "my hand in the making," implying they were instrumental in shaping the narrator's experiences and pleasures. This elevates the relationship from shared joy to co-creation, a profound acknowledgment of the beloved's foundational role. Ultimately, the lyrics articulate a debt that feels unpayable in earthly terms. The narrator expresses a desire for divine recompense, praying that "all thy love rewarded / By God, thy master that made thee." This final plea underscores the immense value placed on the beloved's love, seeking heavenly acknowledgment for a devotion that transcended ordinary human exchange.