“Love me sweet ... With all thou art Feeling, thinking, seeing; ...... Love me in the Lightest part, Love me in full Being.” - Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How Do I Love Thee?
Whoso loves, believes the impossible.
-
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth
Barrett and Robert Browning were two gifted poets destined to produce some of
the most fascinating correspondence in English literature. Robert Browning had
never set eyes on Elizabeth Barrett, and they knew nothing of each other beyond
their published works. Both were well known in their own right and admired and
respected each other's works. This admiration served as a catalyst when Robert
wrote Elizabeth a fan letter on January 10, 1845:
I love your verses with
all my heart, dear Miss Barrett, and this is no offhand complimentary letter
that I shall write, whatever else, no prompt matter-of-course recognition of
your genius, and there a graceful and natural end of the thing. Since that day
last week when I first read your poems, I quite laugh to remember how I have
been turning and turning again in my mind what I should be able to tell you of
their effect upon me, for in the first flush of delight I thought I would this
once get out of my habit of purely passive enjoyment, when I do really enjoy,
and thoroughly justify my admiration perhaps even, as a loyal fellow-craftsman
should, try and find fault and do you some little good to be proud of
hereafter! but nothing comes of it all so into me has gone, and part of me has
it become ….. in this addressing myself to you your own self, and for the first
time, my feeling rises altogether. I do, as I say, love these books with all my
heart and I love you too…..
Elizabeth
was then thirty-nine, in poor health, and sel-dom left the house. She was
dominated by her father who forbade any of his children to marry. Because of
her father's objections, they corresponded in secrecy. Their correspondence was
so prolific that it fills two thick volumes. Elizabeth recorded their
courtship, starting from their initial contact, in her famous Sonnets from the
Portuguese. They encompass all the human emotions including happiness, regret,
confidence and always love.
In
May 1845, Elizabeth finally allowed Robert to visit her. They then met secretly
once a week. In September she wrote, "You have touched me more profoundly than
I thought even you could have touched me. . . . Henceforward I am yours for
everything but to do you harm."
They
continued to meet for another year and corresponded almost every day, sometimes
twice a day. After refusing his overtures, she was finally won over by his
letters and visits, and they became lovers. Robert urged her to marry him and
move to Italy. Elizabeth was reluctant but after much thought agreed. Knowing
that her father would object to her marrying, Robert and Elizabeth married in
secret on September 12, 1846, and a week later they left England for Italy,
first to Pisa, then Florence, then to their eventual home, Casa Guidi. She
never saw her father again, and her father never forgave her. All the letters
she wrote him were returned unopened. Were it not for this relationship, the
world would probably never be able to enjoy words such as these:
How do I love thee? Let
me count the ways.
I love thee to the
depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when
feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being
and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the
level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun
and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as
men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as
they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the
passion put to use
In my old griefs, and
with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love
I seemed to lose
With my lost saints I
love thee with the breadth,
Smiles, tears, of all
my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee
better after death…..
So this is
about a great love story of great literary figures Elizabeth Barrett Browning
and Robert Browning… We have the same story translated into Marathi. Hope
you would love it!!!!!!
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