Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
Sonnets from the Portuguese 14: If Thou
1If thou must love me, let it be for nought
2Except for love's sake only. Do not say
3`I love her for her smile ... her look ... her way
4Of speaking gently, ... for a trick of thought
5That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
6A sense of pleasant ease on such a day'--
7For these things in themselves, Belovèd, may
8Be changed, or change for thee,--and love, so wrought,
9May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
10Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,--
11A creature might forget to weep, who bore
12Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
13But love me for love's sake, that evermore
14Thou may'st love on, through love's eternity.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Poems. 4th edn. 3 vols. London: Chapman and Hall, 1856. PR 4180 E44a ROBA
First publication date:
1850
RPO poem editor: J. D. Robins
RP edition: 2RP.II.343.
Recent editing: 2:2002/2/6
Composition date:
1845
-
1846
Form: sonnet
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