Sonnet X — Yet, love, mere love, is beautiful indeed
Sonnets from the Portuguese, 1850
Yet, love, mere love, is beautiful indeedAnd worthy of acceptation. Fire is bright,Let temple burn, or flax! An equal lightLeaps in the flame from cedar-plank or weed.And love is fire: and when I say at needI love thee . . mark! . . I love thee! . . in thy sightI stand transfigured, glorified aright,With conscience of the new rays that proceedOut of my face toward thine. There's nothing lowIn love, when love the lowest: meanest creaturesWho love God, God accepts while loving so.And what I feel, across the inferior featuresOf what I am, doth flash itself, and showHow that great work of Love enhances Nature's.