Sonnets from the Portuguese, XIV
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnet 14, “If thou must love me, let it be for nought”, is part of a collection of 44 love sonnets known as “Sonnets From the Portuguese”, written between 1845 and 1846 and published in 1850.
Born Elizabeth Barrett Moulton-Barrett, Browning was born on 6 March 1806 in Coxhoe, County Durham, England, and she died on 29 June 1861 in Florence, Kingdom of Italy, at the age of 55.Browning was an English poet of the Victorian era, popular in Britain and the United States during her lifetime. Her first adult collection of poems was published in 1838, and she wrote prolifically between 1841 and 1844, producing poetry, translation, and prose. Her prolific output made her a rival to Tennyson as a candidate for poet laureate on the death of Wordsworth.
External links:
-
Watch this video on YouTube
-
Wikipedia page on “Sonnets from the Portuguese, XIV”
-
Wikipedia page on 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 falls in well with mine, and certes brought A sense of pleasant ease on such a day” — For these things in themselves, Belovëd, 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.