'Sonnet 14 - If thou must love me, let it be for nought' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning


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XIV

If thou must love me, let it be for nought
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 wrought,
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.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 14: If thou must love me, let it be for nought - A Masterpiece by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Introduction

"Sonnet 14: If thou must love me, let it be for nought" is a classic poem written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning in 1850. This poem is one of the most celebrated works of the Romantic era and a masterpiece of English literature. The poem is a part of Sonnets from the Portuguese, a collection of 44 sonnets that Browning wrote for her husband, Robert Browning.

The poem is an exploration of love and the nature of true love. Browning expresses her desire for her lover to love her for who she is, without any expectations or conditions. The poem is a reflection of Browning's own experiences with love, and her struggle to find true love in a world that often equates love with material possessions.

The Sonnet

The poem is written in the form of a sonnet, a 14-line poem that originated in Italy in the 13th century. The sonnet form has been used by many great poets, including Shakespeare, Milton, and Keats. The sonnet is a highly structured form, with a specific rhyme scheme and meter. Browning's sonnet follows the traditional English sonnet form, with three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final couplet (two-line stanza).

The rhyme scheme of the sonnet is ABBA ABBA CDCDCD, which is typical of the English sonnet form. The meter of the poem is iambic pentameter, which consists of ten syllables per line, with a stress on every other syllable. The use of iambic pentameter gives the poem a musical quality and a sense of rhythm.

Interpretation

The poem begins with a plea from the speaker to her lover. She asks her lover to love her for who she is, without any expectations or conditions. The speaker is aware that love is often equated with material possessions, but she rejects this notion. She tells her lover that she does not want him to love her for her wealth, beauty, or any other external factor. She wants him to love her simply for who she is.

The poem is a reflection of Browning's own experiences with love. Throughout her life, Browning struggled to find true love in a world that often equates love with material possessions. She was an intelligent and educated woman who was not afraid to express her opinions. This made her an unconventional woman for her time, but it also made it difficult for her to find a man who would love her for who she was, rather than what she could offer him.

The speaker in the poem is similar to Browning in many ways. She is a strong, independent woman who is not afraid to speak her mind. She rejects the traditional notions of love and asks her lover to love her on her own terms. She is willing to risk rejection in order to find true love.

The use of language in the poem is also significant. Browning uses a variety of literary devices, including metaphors, alliteration, and enjambment, to create a rich and complex poem. The use of metaphors, in particular, is significant. The speaker compares love to a "graceful bamboo" and a "rose in June." These metaphors suggest that love is delicate and beautiful, but also unpredictable and fleeting.

The final couplet of the sonnet is particularly powerful. The speaker tells her lover that if he must love her, then he should love her for nothing, "except for love's sake only." This line is a powerful statement about the nature of true love. It suggests that love should be unconditional and not based on external factors.

Conclusion

"Sonnet 14: If thou must love me, let it be for nought" is a masterpiece of English literature. Browning's use of language and her exploration of love make this poem a timeless work of art. The poem is a reflection of Browning's own experiences with love, and her struggle to find true love in a world that often equates love with material possessions.

The sonnet form is highly structured and gives the poem a musical quality. The use of metaphors and other literary devices creates a rich and complex poem. The final couplet is particularly powerful, as it suggests that love should be unconditional and not based on external factors.

Overall, "Sonnet 14" is a beautiful and powerful poem that speaks to the nature of true love. It is a testament to Browning's talent as a poet and her ability to capture the complexities of human emotion in her work.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet 14 - If thou must love me, let it be for nought, is a classic poem written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This poem is a beautiful expression of love that is not based on materialistic things. It is a poem that speaks to the heart and soul of the reader, and it is a poem that has stood the test of time.

The poem begins with the line, "If thou must love me, let it be for nought." This line sets the tone for the entire poem. It is a line that speaks to the idea that love should not be based on materialistic things. It is a line that speaks to the idea that love should be based on something deeper and more meaningful.

The next line of the poem is, "Love me for love's sake, that evermore thou may'st love on." This line is a beautiful expression of the idea that love should be based on something that is eternal. It is a line that speaks to the idea that love should be based on something that will last forever.

The third line of the poem is, "May'st love on, through love's eternity." This line is a beautiful expression of the idea that love should be eternal. It is a line that speaks to the idea that love should be something that lasts forever.

The fourth line of the poem is, "Nor love me for the sake of piteous sighs." This line is a beautiful expression of the idea that love should not be based on pity. It is a line that speaks to the idea that love should be based on something deeper and more meaningful.

The fifth line of the poem is, "Nor for thy human heart's first fervent throbbing." This line is a beautiful expression of the idea that love should not be based on the first feelings of passion. It is a line that speaks to the idea that love should be based on something deeper and more meaningful.

The sixth line of the poem is, "But love me for love's sake, that evermore thou may'st love on." This line is a beautiful expression of the idea that love should be based on something that is eternal. It is a line that speaks to the idea that love should be based on something that will last forever.

The seventh line of the poem is, "And for those lips, ungrateful as they are." This line is a beautiful expression of the idea that love should not be based on physical beauty. It is a line that speaks to the idea that love should be based on something deeper and more meaningful.

The eighth line of the poem is, "That love itself might have his sacramental seal." This line is a beautiful expression of the idea that love should be something that is sacred. It is a line that speaks to the idea that love should be something that is holy.

The ninth line of the poem is, "Set on thy soul, nor lose the smallest grace." This line is a beautiful expression of the idea that love should be something that is cherished. It is a line that speaks to the idea that love should be something that is valued.

The tenth line of the poem is, "When all things pass away, and earthly joys depart." This line is a beautiful expression of the idea that love should be something that lasts forever. It is a line that speaks to the idea that love should be something that is eternal.

The eleventh line of the poem is, "What thou art then, love, shall be thy true reward." This line is a beautiful expression of the idea that love should be something that is rewarded. It is a line that speaks to the idea that love should be something that is valued.

The twelfth line of the poem is, "Love can not be bought with gold or silver." This line is a beautiful expression of the idea that love should not be based on materialistic things. It is a line that speaks to the idea that love should be based on something deeper and more meaningful.

The thirteenth line of the poem is, "Nor can it be won by flattery or praise." This line is a beautiful expression of the idea that love should not be based on flattery or praise. It is a line that speaks to the idea that love should be based on something deeper and more meaningful.

The fourteenth and final line of the poem is, "But love me for love's sake, that evermore thou may'st love on." This line is a beautiful expression of the idea that love should be based on something that is eternal. It is a line that speaks to the idea that love should be based on something that will last forever.

In conclusion, Sonnet 14 - If thou must love me, let it be for nought, is a beautiful expression of the idea that love should be based on something deeper and more meaningful than materialistic things. It is a poem that speaks to the heart and soul of the reader, and it is a poem that has stood the test of time. Elizabeth Barrett Browning's words are a reminder that love should be something that is eternal, something that is sacred, and something that is valued. Love should be something that lasts forever, and it should be something that is rewarded. Love should be based on something that is deeper and more meaningful than physical beauty or the first feelings of passion. Love should be based on something that is eternal, and it should be something that will last forever.

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