Sonnets from the Porguguese, XIV

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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 fall 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.

Sonnets from the Portuguese, X

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Yet, love, mere love, is beautiful indeed

And worthy of acceptation.  Fire is bright,

Let temple burn, or flax!  An equal light

Leaps in the flame from cedar-plank or weed.

And love is fire:  and when I say at need

I love thee... mark!... I love thee!... in thy sight

I stand transfigured, glorified aright,

With conscience of the new rays that proceed

Out of my face toward thine.  There's nothing low

In love, when love the lowest:  meanest creatures

Who love God, God accepts while loving so.

And what I feel, across the inferior features

Of what I am, doth flash itself, and show

How that great work of Love enhances Nature's.