Sonnets from the Portuguese, written ca. 1845–1846 and first published in 1850, is a collection of forty-four love sonnets written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The poems largely chronicle the period leading up to her 1846 marriage to Robert Browning. The collection was acclaimed and popular even in the poet's lifetime and it remains so today. Elizabeth was initially hesitant to publish the poems, feeling that they were too personal. However, Robert insisted that they were the best sequence of English-language sonnets since Shakespeare's time and urged her to publish them. To offer the couple some privacy, she decided that she might publish them under a title disguising the poems as translations of foreign sonnets. Therefore, the collection was first to be known as Sonnets from the Bosnian, until Robert suggested that she change their imaginary original language to Portuguese, probably after his nickname for her: "my little Portuguese." (Summary from Wikipedia)
Chapters
1
I thought once how Theocritus had sung Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:11
2
But only three in all God’s universe Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:06
3
Unlike are we, unlike, o princely heart Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:04
4
Thou hast thy calling to some palace floor Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:06
5
I lift my heavy heart up solemnly Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:08
6
Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:06
7
The face of all the world is changed, I think Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:06
8
What can I give thee back, O liberal Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:07
9
Can it be right to give what I can give? Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:04
10
Yet, love, mere love, is beautiful enough Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:12
11
And therefore if to love can be desert Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:05
12
Indeed this very love which is my boast Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:06
13
And wilt thou have me fashion into speech Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:06
14
If thou must love me, let it be for nought Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:05
15
Accuse me not, beseech thee, that I wear Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:03
16
And yet, because thou overcomest so Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:03
17
My poet, thou canst touch on all the notes Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:09
18
I never gave a lock of hair away Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:06
19
The soul’s Rialto hath its merchandise Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:07
20
Beloved, my beloved, when I think Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:05
21
Say over again, and yet once over again Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:10
22
When our two souls stand up erect and strong Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:03
23
Is it indeed so? If I lay here dead Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:04
24
Let the world’s sharpness, like a clasping knife Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:01
25
A heavy heart, Beloved, have I borne Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:02
26
I lived with visions for my company Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:05
27
My own Beloved, who has lifted me Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:06
28
My letters! all dead paper, mute and white! Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:08
29
I think of thee!–my thoughts do twine and bud Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:05
30
I see thine image through my tears tonight Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:04
31
Thou comest! All is said without a word Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:01
32
The first time that the sun rose on thine oath Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:03
33
Yes, call me by my pet-name! Let me hear Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:03
34
With the same heart, I said, I’ll answer thee Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:01
35
If I leave all for thee, wilt thou exchange Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:00
36
When we first met and loved, I did not build Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:06
37
Pardon, oh, pardon that my soul should make Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:01
38
First time he kissed me, he but only kissed Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:13
39
Because thou hast the power and own’st the grace Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:04
40
Oh yes! they love all through this world of ours! Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:05
41
I thank all who have loved me in their hearts Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:02
42
My future will not copy fair my past Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:05
43
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:09
44
Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers Read by Kirsten Ferreri 1:09
From LibriVox, read by volunteers and in the public domain. LibriVox page (opens librivox.org) , the text (opens gutenberg.org) , all files on the Internet Archive (opens archive.org) .
