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SONNETSFROMTHEPORTUGUESE1SONNETSFROMTHEPORTUGUESEbyBrowningSONNETSFROMTHEPORTUGUESE2IIthoughtoncehowTheocritushadsungOfthesweetyears,thedearandwished-foryears,WhoeachoneinagracioushandappearsTobearagiftformortals,oldoryoung:And,asImuseditinhisantiquetongue,Isaw,ingradualvisionthroughmytears,Thesweet,sadyears,themelancholyyears,Thoseofmyownlife,whobyturnshadflungAshadowacrossme.StraightwayIwas'ware,Soweeping,howamysticShapedidmoveBehindme,anddrewmebackwardbythehair;Andavoicesaidinmastery,whileIstrove,-Guessnowwhoholdsthee!-Death,Isaid,But,there,Thesilveranswerrang,Notdeath,butLove.IIButonlythreeinallGod'suniverseHaveheardthiswordthouhastsaid,--himself,besideTheespeaking,andmelistening!andrepliedOneofus...thatwasGod,...andlaidthecurseSodarklyonmyeyelids,soastoamerceMysightfromseeingthee,--thatifIhaddied,Thedeath-weights,placedthere,wouldhavesignifiedLessabsoluteexclusion.NayisworseFromGodthanfromallothers,Omyfriend!Mencouldnotpartuswiththeirworldlyjars,Northeseaschangeus,northetempestsbend;Ourhandswouldtouchforallthemountain-bars:And,heavenbeingrolledbetweenusattheend,Weshouldbutvowthefasterforthestars.IIIUnlikearewe,unlike,OprincelyHeart!Unlikeourusesandourdestinies.OurministeringtwoangelslooksurpriseOnoneanother,astheystrikeathwartTheirwingsinpassing.Thou,bethinkthee,artAguestforqueenstosocialpageantries,WithgagesfromahundredbrightereyesThantearsevencanmakemine,toplaythypartOfchiefmusician.WhathastthoutodoWithlookingfromthelattice-lightsatme,Apoor,tired,wanderingsinger,singingthroughThedark,andleaningupaSONNETSFROMTHEPORTUGUESE3cypresstree?Thechrismisonthinehead,--onmine,thedew,-AndDeathmustdigthelevelwheretheseagree.IVThouhastthycallingtosomepalace-floor,Mostgracioussingerofhighpoems!whereThedancerswillbreakfooting,fromthecareOfwatchingupthypregnantlipsformore.Anddostthouliftthishouse'slatchtoopoorForhandofthine?andcanstthouthinkandbearToletthymusicdrophereunawareInfoldsofgoldenfulnessatmydoor?Lookupandseethecasementbrokenin,Thebatsandowletsbuildersintheroof!Mycricketchirpsagainstthymandolin.Hush,callnoechoupinfurtherproofOfdesolation!there'savoicewithinThatweeps...asthoumustsing...alone,aloof.VIliftmyheavyheartupsolemnly,AsonceElectrahersepulchralurn,And,lookinginthineeyes,Iover-turnTheashesatthyfeet.BeholdandseeWhatagreatheapofgrieflayhidinme,AndhowtheredwildsparklesdimlyburnThroughtheashengreyness.IfthyfootinscornCouldtreadthemouttodarknessutterly,Itmightbewellperhaps.ButifinsteadThouwaitbesidemeforthewindtoblowThegreydustup,...thoselaurelsonthinehead,OmyBeloved,willnotshieldtheeso,ThatnoneofallthefiresshallscorchandshredThehairbeneath.Standfurtheroffthen!go!VIGofromme.YetIfeelthatIshallstandHenceforwardinthyshadow.NevermoreAloneuponthethresholdofmydoorOfindividuallife,IshallcommandTheusesofmysoul,norliftmyhandSerenelyinthesunshineasbefore,WithoutthesenseofthatwhichIforbore-Thytouchuponthepalm.ThewidestlandDoomtakestopartus,leavesthyheartinmineWithpulsesthatbeatdouble.WhatIdoAndwhatIdreamincludethee,SONNETSFROMTHEPORTUGUESE4asthewineMusttasteofitsowngrapes.AndwhenIsueGodformyself,Hehearsthatnameofthine,Andseeswithinmyeyesthetearsoftwo.VIIThefaceofalltheworldischanged,Ithink,SincefirstIheardthefootstepsofthysoulMovestill,oh,still,besideme,astheystoleBetwixtmeandthedreadfulouterbrinkOfobviousdeath,whereI,whothoughttosink,Wascaughtupintolove,andtaughtthewholeOflifeinanewrhythm.ThecupofdoleGodgaveforbaptism,Iamfaintodrink,Andpraiseitssweetness,Sweet,withtheeanear.Thenamesofcountry,heaven,arechangedawayForwherethouartorshaltbe,thereorhere;Andthis...thisluteandsong...lovedyesterday,(Thesingingangelsknow)areonlydearBecausethynamemovesrightinwhattheysay.VIIIWhatcanIgivetheeback,OliberalAndprincelygiver,whohastbroughtthegoldAndpurpleofthineheart,unstained,untold,AndlaidthemontheoutsideofthewallForsuchasItotakeorleavewithal,Inunexpectedlargesse?amIcold,Ungrateful,thatforthesemostmanifoldHighgifts,Irendernothingbackatall?Notso;notcold,--butverypoorinstead.AskGodwhoknows.ForfrequenttearshaverunThecoloursfrommylife,andleftsodeadAndpaleastuff,itwerenotfitlydoneTogivethesameaspillowtothyhead.Gofarther!letitservetotrampleon.IXCanitberighttogivewhatIcangive?TolettheesitbeneaththefalloftearsAssaltasmine,andhearthesighingyearsRe-sighingonmylipsrenunciativeThroughthoseinfrequentsmileswhichfailtoliveForallthyadjurations?Omyfears,Thatthiscanscarceberight!WearenotpeersSotobelovers;andIown,andgrieve,Thatgiversofsuchgiftsasmineare,mustBecountedwiththeungenerous.Out,alas!Iwillnotsoilthypurplewithmydust,NorbreathemypoisononthyVenice-glass,NorSONNETSFROMTHEPORTUGUESE5givetheeanylove--whichwereunjust.Beloved,Ionlylovethee!letitpass.XYet,love,merelove,isbeautifulindeedAndworthofacceptation.Fireisbright,Lettempleburn,orflax;anequallightLeapsintheflamefromcedar-plankorweed:Andloveisfire.AndwhenIsayatneedIlovethee...mark!...Ilovethee--inthysightIstandtransfigured,glorifiedaright,WithconscienceofthenewraysthatproceedOutofmyfacetowardthine.There'snothinglowInlove,whenlovethelowest:meanestcreaturesWholoveGod,Godacceptswhilelovingso.Andwha