1 | [[quoteright:205:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Elizabeth-Barrett-Browning_Poetical_Works_Volume_I_engraving_6387.jpg]] |
2 | [[caption-width-right:205:The love of Robert Browning's life, and he was hers.]] |
3 | |
4 | Forty-four love sonnets by [[UsefulNotes/VictorianBritain Victorian era]] British poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. |
5 | |
6 | Written in 1845–46 after she met fellow poet Creator/RobertBrowning and before they married, the sonnets remain among the most popular love {{poetry}} of all time. The collection was published in 1850 as being translated "from the Portuguese" in order to provide some measure of privacy for the Brownings. |
7 | |
8 | The most famous sonnet is undoubtedly number 43 (especially its first line): |
9 | |
10 | ->How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.\ |
11 | I love thee to the depth and breadth and height\ |
12 | My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight\ |
13 | For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.\ |
14 | I love thee to the level of everyday's\ |
15 | Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.\ |
16 | I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;\ |
17 | I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.\ |
18 | I love thee with the passion put to use\ |
19 | In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.\ |
20 | I love thee with a love I seemed to lose\ |
21 | With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,\ |
22 | Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,\ |
23 | I shall but love thee better after death. |
24 | |
25 | The complete work is now in the public domain, and can be found on [[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2002/2002-h/2002-h.htm Project Gutenberg]]. |
26 | |
27 | ---- |
28 | !!These poems provide examples of: |
29 | * IKissYourHand: In issue 38, Elizabeth counts as their first kiss Robert kissing her hand. |
30 | -->First time he kissed me, he but only kissed\ |
31 | The fingers of this hand wherewith I write;\ |
32 | And ever since, it grew more clean and white. |
33 | * PlausibleDeniability: Claiming that the poems were translated from Portuguese. There is also a stealth reference in there. As "My Little Portuguese" was a pet name Robert gave to Elizabeth. |
34 | * RavenHairIvorySkin: Elizabeth describes her hair as very black and her skin as pale-white. |
35 | * UndyingLoyalty: In number 43, Elizabeth declares her body will die, but her love will not. |
36 |
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