ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

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TF thou must love me, let it be for naught 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, Beloved, may Be changed, or change for thee and love, so wrougnt, 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 mayst love on, through love's eternity.

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VVTHEN 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 curving point, what bitter wrong Can the earth do us, that we should not long

Be here contented ? Think ! In mounting higher,

The angels would press on us, and aspire To drop some golden orb of perfect song Into our deep, dear silence. Let us stay

Rather on earth, Beloved where the unfit Contrarious moods of men recoil away

And isolate pure spirits, and permit A place to stand and love in for a day,

With darkness and the death-hour rounding it.

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