Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)
Sonnets from the Portuguese: XLIII
1How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
2I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
3My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
4For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
5I love thee to the level of everyday’s
6Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
7I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
8I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
9I love thee with the passion put to use
10In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
11I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
12With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,
13Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,
14I shall but love thee better after death.
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: A Selection from the Poetry of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. First Series. New Edition. London: Smith, Elder, & Co., 1886. 1: 181-202.
First publication date:
1850
RPO poem editor: Marc R. Plamondon
RP edition: 2007
Recent editing: 2:2007/11/24
Composition date:
1846
Form: sonnet
Other poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
