Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 32, by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING


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SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 32, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The first time that the sun rose on thine oath
Last Line: And great souls, at one stroke, may do and doat.
Subject(s): Love


THE first time that the sun rose on thine oath
To love me, I looked forward to the moon
To slacken all those bonds which seemed too soon
And quickly tied to make a lasting troth.
Quick-loving hearts, I thought, may quickly loathe;
And, looking on myself, I seemed not one
For such man's love! -- more like an out-of-tune
Worn viol, a good singer would be wroth
To spoil his song with, and which, snatched in haste,
Is laid down at the first ill-sounding note.
I did not wrong myself so, but I placed
A wrong on thee. For perfect strains may float
'Neath master-hands, from instruments defaced, --
And great souls, at one stroke, may do and doat.





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