ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE (1845-46) I I thought once how Theocritus had sung Of the sweet years, the dear and wishedfor years, Who each one in a gracious hand appears To bear a gift for mortals, old or young: And, as I mused it in his antique tongue, 5 I saw, in gradual vision through my tears, The sweet, sad years, the melancholy years, Those of my own life, who by turns had flung A shadow across me. Straightway I was 'ware, So weeping, how a mystic Shape did move Behind me, and drew me backward by the hair; The 11 Never 5 Alone upon the threshold of my door Thy touch upon the palm. The widest land Doom takes to part us, leaves thy heart in mine Be changed, or change for thee, - and love so wrought When our two souls stand up erect and strong, Face to face, silent, drawing nigh and nigher, Until the lengthening wings break into fire At either curvèd point, what bitter wrong Can the earth do to us, that we should not long Be here contented? higher, 5 Think! in mounting Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. COVENTRY PATMORE (1823-1896) THE MARRIED LOVER (From The Angel in the House, 1860: Book Second, Canto XII) Why, having won her, do I woo? - But, spirit-like, eludes embrace; 5 10 That grace could meet with disrespect: Thus she with happy favor feeds Allegiance from a love so high That thence no false conceit proceeds As lowly as a wife can be, Her manners, when they call me lord, Not with her least consent of will, Imputes an unattained desert. THE TOYS (From The Unknown Eros, 1877) 15 20 25 30 My little Son, who looked from thoughtful eyes And moved and spoke in quiet grown-up wise, |