Mrs. Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861). XI. "Can it be right to give what I can give?" Hunt and Lee, comps. 1867. The Book of the Sonnet

Hunt and Lee, comps. The Book of the Sonnet. 1867.

XI. “Can it be right to give what I can give?”

By Mrs. Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861)


(From Sonnets from the Portuguese) CAN it be right to give what I can give?
To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears
As salt as mine, and hear the sighing years
Re-sighing on my lips renunciative
Through those infrequent smiles which fail to live	5
For all thy adjurations? O my fears
That this can scarce be right! We are not peers,
So to be lovers; and I own and grieve
That givers of such gifts as mine are must
Be counted with the ungenerous. Out, alas!	10
I will not soil thy purple with my dust,
Nor breathe my poison on thy Venice-glass,
Nor give thee any love,—which were unjust
Beloved, I only love thee! let it pass.