Difference between revisions of "Romantic Selections I"
(New page: '''Title: Romantic Selections I''' '''Author: Elizabeth B. Browning''' - IX - Can it be right to give what I can give? To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears As salt as mine, and hear...) |
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| − | Can it be right to give what I can give? | + | Can it be right to give what I can give?<br> |
| − | To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears | + | To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears<br> |
| − | As salt as mine, and hear the sighing years | + | As salt as mine, and hear the sighing years<br> |
| − | Re-sighing on my lips renunciative | + | Re-sighing on my lips renunciative<br> |
| − | Through those infrequent smiles which fail to live | + | Through those infrequent smiles which fail to live<br> |
| − | For all thy adjurations? O my fears, | + | For all thy adjurations? O my fears,<br> |
| − | That this can scarce be right! We are not peers | + | That this can scarce be right! We are not peers<br> |
| − | So to be lovers; and I own, and grieve, | + | So to be lovers; and I own, and grieve,<br> |
| − | That givers of such gifts as mine are, must | + | That givers of such gifts as mine are, must<br> |
| − | Be counted with the ungenerous. Out, alas! | + | Be counted with the ungenerous. Out, alas!<br> |
| − | I will not soil thy purple with my dust, | + | I will not soil thy purple with my dust,<br> |
| − | Nor breathe my poison on thy Venice-glass, | + | Nor breathe my poison on thy Venice-glass,<br> |
| − | Nor give thee any love--which were unjust. | + | Nor give thee any love--which were unjust.<br> |
| − | Beloved, I only love thee! let it pass. | + | Beloved, I only love thee! let it pass. <br> |
| − | - XIV - | + | - XIV -<br> |
| − | If thou must love me, let it be for nought | + | If thou must love me, let it be for nought<br> |
| − | Except for love's sake only. Do not say | + | Except for love's sake only. Do not say<br> |
| − | "I love her for her smile--her look--her way | + | "I love her for her smile--her look--her way<br> |
| − | Of speaking gently,--for a trick of thought | + | Of speaking gently,--for a trick of thought<br> |
| − | That falls in well with mine, and certes brought | + | That falls in well with mine, and certes brought<br> |
| − | A sense of pleasant ease on such a day" - | + | A sense of pleasant ease on such a day" -<br> |
| − | For these things in themselves, Beloved, may | + | For these things in themselves, Beloved, may<br> |
| − | Be changed, or change for thee,--and love, so wrought, | + | Be changed, or change for thee,--and love, so wrought,<br> |
| − | May be unwrought so. Neither love me for | + | May be unwrought so. Neither love me for<br> |
| − | Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry, - | + | Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry, -<br> |
| − | A creature might forget to weep, who bore | + | A creature might forget to weep, who bore<br> |
| − | Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby! | + | Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!<br> |
| − | But love me for love's sake, that evermore | + | But love me for love's sake, that evermore<br> |
| − | Thou may'st love on, through love's eternity. | + | Thou may'st love on, through love's eternity. <br> |
| − | - XXII - | + | - XXII -<br> |
| − | When our two souls stand up erect and strong, | + | When our two souls stand up erect and strong,<br> |
| − | Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher, | + | Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher,<br> |
| − | Until the lengthening wings break into fire | + | Until the lengthening wings break into fire<br> |
| − | At either curved point,--what bitter wrong | + | At either curved point,--what bitter wrong<br> |
| − | Can the earth do to us, that we should not long | + | Can the earth do to us, that we should not long<br> |
| − | Be here contented? Think! In mounting higher, | + | Be here contented? Think! In mounting higher,<br> |
| − | The angels would press on us and aspire | + | The angels would press on us and aspire<br> |
| − | To drop some golden orb of perfect song | + | To drop some golden orb of perfect song<br> |
| − | Into our deep, dear silence. Let us stay | + | Into our deep, dear silence. Let us stay<br> |
| − | Rather on earth, Beloved,--where the unfit | + | Rather on earth, Beloved,--where the unfit<br> |
| − | Contrarious moods of men recoil away | + | Contrarious moods of men recoil away<br> |
| − | And isolate pure spirits, and permit | + | And isolate pure spirits, and permit<br> |
| − | A place to stand and love in for a day, | + | A place to stand and love in for a day,<br> |
| − | With darkness and the death-hour rounding it. | + | With darkness and the death-hour rounding it. <br> |
| − | - XXIX - | + | - XXIX -<br> |
| − | I think of thee!--my thoughts do twine and bud | + | I think of thee!--my thoughts do twine and bud<br> |
| − | About thee, as wild vines, about a tree, | + | About thee, as wild vines, about a tree,<br> |
| − | Put out broad leaves, and soon there's nought to see | + | Put out broad leaves, and soon there's nought to see<br> |
| − | Except the straggling green which hides the wood. | + | Except the straggling green which hides the wood.<br> |
| − | Yet, O my palm-tree, be it understood | + | Yet, O my palm-tree, be it understood<br> |
| − | I will not have my thoughts instead of thee | + | I will not have my thoughts instead of thee<br> |
| − | Who art dearer, better! Rather, instantly | + | Who art dearer, better! Rather, instantly<br> |
| − | Renew thy presence; as a strong tree should, | + | Renew thy presence; as a strong tree should,<br> |
| − | Rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk all bare, | + | Rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk all bare,<br> |
| − | And let these bands of greenery which insphere thee, | + | And let these bands of greenery which insphere thee,<br> |
| − | Drop heavily down,--burst, shattered everywhere! | + | Drop heavily down,--burst, shattered everywhere!<br> |
| − | Because, in this deep joy to see and hear thee | + | Because, in this deep joy to see and hear thee<br> |
| − | And breathe within thy shadow a new air, | + | And breathe within thy shadow a new air,<br> |
| − | I do not think of thee--I am too near thee. | + | I do not think of thee--I am too near thee.<br> |
| − | - XLIII - | + | - XLIII -<br> |
| − | How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. | + | How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.<br> |
| − | I love thee to the depth and breadth and height | + | I love thee to the depth and breadth and height<br> |
| − | My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight | + | My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight<br> |
| − | For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. | + | For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.<br> |
| − | I love thee to the level of everyday's | + | I love thee to the level of everyday's<br> |
| − | Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. | + | Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.<br> |
| − | I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; | + | I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;<br> |
| − | I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. | + | I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.<br> |
| − | I love thee with the passion put to use | + | I love thee with the passion put to use<br> |
| − | In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. | + | In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.<br> |
| − | I love thee with a love I seemed to lose | + | I love thee with a love I seemed to lose<br> |
| − | With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath, | + | With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath,<br> |
| − | Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose, | + | Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,<br> |
| − | I shall but love thee better after death. | + | I shall but love thee better after death. <br> |
Revision as of 03:14, 22 November 2008
Title: Romantic Selections I
Author: Elizabeth B. Browning
- IX -
Can it be right to give what I can give?
To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears
As salt as mine, and hear the sighing years
Re-sighing on my lips renunciative
Through those infrequent smiles which fail to live
For all thy adjurations? O my fears,
That this can scarce be right! We are not peers
So to be lovers; and I own, and grieve,
That givers of such gifts as mine are, must
Be counted with the ungenerous. Out, alas!
I will not soil thy purple with my dust,
Nor breathe my poison on thy Venice-glass,
Nor give thee any love--which were unjust.
Beloved, I only love thee! let it pass.
- XIV -
If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
"I love her for her smile--her look--her way
Of speaking gently,--for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day" -
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,--and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry, -
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou may'st love on, through love's eternity.
- XXII -
When our two souls stand up erect and strong,
Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher,
Until the lengthening wings break into fire
At either curved point,--what bitter wrong
Can the earth do to us, that we should not long
Be here contented? Think! In mounting higher,
The angels would press on us and aspire
To drop some golden orb of perfect song
Into our deep, dear silence. Let us stay
Rather on earth, Beloved,--where the unfit
Contrarious moods of men recoil away
And isolate pure spirits, and permit
A place to stand and love in for a day,
With darkness and the death-hour rounding it.
- XXIX -
I think of thee!--my thoughts do twine and bud
About thee, as wild vines, about a tree,
Put out broad leaves, and soon there's nought to see
Except the straggling green which hides the wood.
Yet, O my palm-tree, be it understood
I will not have my thoughts instead of thee
Who art dearer, better! Rather, instantly
Renew thy presence; as a strong tree should,
Rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk all bare,
And let these bands of greenery which insphere thee,
Drop heavily down,--burst, shattered everywhere!
Because, in this deep joy to see and hear thee
And breathe within thy shadow a new air,
I do not think of thee--I am too near thee.
- XLIII -
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
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