Dante Gabriel Rosetti

Sonnet 23: Love's Baubles

I stood where Love in brimming armfuls bore
   Slight wanton flowers and foolish toys of fruit:
   And round him ladies thronged in warm pursuit,
Fingered and lipped and proffered the strange store.
And from one hand the petal and the core
   Savoured of sleep; and cluster and curled shoot
   Seemed from another hand like shame's salute,-
Gifts that I felt my cheek was blushing for.

At last Love bade my Lady give the same:
   And as I looked, the dew was light thereon;
   And as I took them, at her touch they shone
With inmost heaven-hue of the heart of flame.
And then Love said: "Lo! when the hand is hers,
Follies of love are love's true ministers."

Love, romance and relationship quotes for your soul

• 'Love talked about can be easily turned aside, but love demonstrated is irresistible.'
  ~ W Stanley Mooneyham
• 'When you love someone, all your saved-up wishes start coming out.'
  ~ Elizabeth Bowen
• 'Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.'
  ~ Peter Ustinov