I think this is about someone (well, probably the old composer) who looks back on his love life. He realizes that he didn't look for a woman that would just give him love, or pride etc, but truth and innocence. I think that each bird mentioned here is one love of his life. Each of them was lovely in her own way, but in the end he refused them all, because they couldn't give him truth or innocence, but only love.
I'm not entirely sure, though.
I think this is about someone (well, probably the old composer) who looks back on his love life. He realizes that he didn't look for a woman that would just give him love, or pride etc, but truth and innocence. I think that each bird mentioned here is one love of his life. Each of them was lovely in her own way, but in the end he refused them all, because they couldn't give him truth or innocence, but only love. I'm not entirely sure, though.