Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SONG by ROBERT BROWNING

Poet Analysis

First Line: NAY BUT YOU, WHO DO NOT LOVE HER
Last Line: BUT CANNOT PRAISE, I LOVE SO MUCH!
Subject(s): INNOCENCE; LOVE;

NAY but you, who do not love her,
Is she not pure gold, my mistress?
Holds earth aught -- speak truth -- above her?
Aught like this tress, see, and this tress,
And this last fairest tress of all,
So fair, see, ere I let it fall?

Because you spend your lives in praising;
To praise, you search the wide world over;
Then why not witness, calmly gazing,
If earth holds aught -- speak truth -- above her?
Above this tress, and this, I touch
But cannot praise, I love so much!



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