Sonnets from the Portuguese E-Book

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

• Herausgeber: Seltzer Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Seitenzahl: 28

Beschreibung

Very short collection of love poems. According to Wikipedia: "Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806 – 1861) was one of the most respected poets of the Victorian era."

Leseprobe

SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE BY ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

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INDEX OF FIRST LINES

I       I thought once how Theocritus had sung

II      But only three in all God's universe

III     Unlike are we, unlike, O princely Heart!

IV      Thou hast thy calling to some palace-floor

V       I lift my heavy heart up solemnly

VI      Go from me.  Yet I feel that I shall stand

VII     The face of all the world is changed, I think

VIII    What can I give thee back, O liberal

IX      Can it be right to give what I can give?

X       Yet, love, mere love, is beautiful indeed

XI      And therefore if to love can be desert

XII     Indeed this very love which is my boast

XIII    And wilt thou have me fashion into speech

XIV     If thou must love me, let it be for nought

XV      Accuse me not, beseech thee, that I wear

XVI     And yet, because thou overcomest so

XVII    My poet thou canst touch on all the notes

XVIII   I never gave a lock of hair away

XIX     The soul's Rialto hath its merchandize

XX      Beloved, my beloved, when I think

XXI     Say over again, and yet once over again

XXII    When our two souls stand up erect and strong

XXIII   Is it indeed so?  If I lay here dead

XXIV    Let the world's sharpness like a clasping knife

XXV     A heavy heart, Beloved, have I borne

XXVI    I lived with visions for my company

XXVII   My own Beloved, who hast lifted me

XXVIII  My letters! all dead paper, mute and white!

XXIX    I think of thee!--my thoughts do twine and bud

XXX     I see thine image through my tears to-night

XXXI    Thou comest! all is said without a word

XXXII   The first time that the sun rose on thine oath

XXXIII  Yes, call me by my pet-name! let me hear

XXXIV   With the same heart, I said, I'll answer thee

XXXV    If I leave all for thee, wilt thou exchange

XXXVI   When we met first and loved, I did not build

XXXVII  Pardon, oh, pardon, that my soul should make

XXXVIII First time he kissed me, he but only kissed

XXXIX   Because thou hast the power and own'st the grace

XL      Oh, yes! they love through all this world of ours!

XLI     I thank all who have loved me in their hearts

XLII    My future will not copy fair my past

XLIII   How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways

XLIV    Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers

I

I thought once how Theocritus had sung

Of the sweet years, the dear and wished-for years,

Who each one in a gracious hand appears

To bear a gift for mortals, old or young:

And, as I mused it in his antique tongue,

I saw, in gradual vision through my tears,

The sweet, sad years, the melancholy years,

Those of my own life, who by turns had flung

A shadow across me.  Straightway I was 'ware,

So weeping, how a mystic Shape did move

Behind me, and drew me backward by the hair;

And a voice said in mastery, while I strove, -

"Guess now who holds thee!" -

"Death," I said,

But, there,

The silver answer rang, "Not death, but Love."

II

But only three in all God's universe

Have heard this word thou hast said,--himself, beside

Thee speaking, and me listening! and replied