Robert Browning

Might she have loved me? just as well She might have hated, who can tell!

Love, hope, fear, faith - these make humanity; These are its sign, and note and character.

For I say this is death and the sole death,- When a man's loss comes to him from his gain, Darkness from light, from knowledge ignorance, And lack of love from love made manifest.

Measure your mind's height by the shade it casts.

Where the apple reddens Never pry - Lest we lose our Edens, Eve and I.

Let's contend no more, Love, Strive nor weep: All be as before Love, - Only sleep.

Any nose May ravage with impunity a rose.

O woman-country! wooed not wed, Loved all the more by earth's male-lands, Laid to their hearts instead.

What's come to perfection perishes. Things learned on earth we shall practice in heaven; Works done least rapidly Art most cherishes.

Oh their Rafael of the dear Madonnas, Oh their Dante of the dread Inferno, Wrote one song-and in my brain I sing it; Drew one angel-borne, see, on my bosom!