Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning. 18061861686. Sonnets from the Portuguese v
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 curving point,—what bitter wrong | |
Can the earth do us, that we should not long | 5 |
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, Belovèd—where the unfit | 10 |
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. |