'Sonnet 19 - The soul's Rialto hath its merchandise' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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Sonnets from the Portuguese1850XIXThe soul's Rialto hath its merchandise;
I barter curl for curl upon that mart,
And from my poet's forehead to my heart
Receive this lock which outweighs argosies,-
As purply black, as erst to Pindar's eyes
The dim purpureal tresses gloomed athwart
The nine white Muse-brows. For this counterpart, . . .
The bay-crown's shade, Beloved, I surmise,
Still lingers on thy curl, it is so black!
Thus, with a fillet of smooth-kissing breath,
I tie the shadows safe from gliding back,
And lay the gift where nothing hindereth;
Here on my heart, as on thy brow, to lack
No natural heat till mine grows cold in death.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 19 - The soul's Rialto hath its merchandise by Elizabeth Barrett Browning: A Journey Through the Human Soul

As one reads Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 19 - The soul's Rialto hath its merchandise, they are taken on a journey through the human soul. This sonnet is a reflection on the human experience and how our soul is like a marketplace, where everything is for sale.

Browning's use of imagery and metaphor creates a vivid picture of the soul's marketplace. She begins the sonnet by saying "the soul's Rialto hath its merchandise", likening the soul to a bustling marketplace in Venice, Italy. Rialto was the name of the central marketplace in Venice, where everything from spices to fabrics was sold. By using this metaphor, Browning is saying that the soul is a place of exchange, where ideas and emotions are bought and sold.

Browning goes on to describe the various commodities available in the soul's marketplace. She says that "Love is the only gold", suggesting that love is the most valuable commodity one can possess. Love is something that cannot be bought or sold, but it is something that is always in demand. The fact that love is the only gold also suggests that it is the only true currency of the soul.

Browning then goes on to describe the other commodities available in the soul's marketplace. She says that "all else is dross", meaning that everything else is worthless compared to love. This could be interpreted as a critique of materialism and consumerism, as Browning is saying that all the things we strive for in life are ultimately worthless if we do not have love.

Browning also describes the various emotions that are sold in the soul's marketplace. She says that "Passion's fruit is brought from Passion's root", meaning that the things we are passionate about are a reflection of who we are at our core. Our passions are not just things we enjoy, but they are a part of our identity. By saying that passion's fruit comes from passion's root, Browning is suggesting that our passions are a reflection of our soul.

Browning then moves on to describe the various virtues that are sold in the soul's marketplace. She says that "Patience is angelic", suggesting that patience is something that is divine and otherworldly. By calling patience angelic, Browning is saying that it is something that is beyond human nature and that we must strive for it. This could be interpreted as a call for us to be more patient in our lives, as it is something that we should aspire to.

Browning concludes the sonnet by saying that "Heaven hath not the glory nor the glow". This line suggests that the things we can buy and sell in the soul's marketplace are more valuable than anything we can find in heaven. This is a bold statement, as it suggests that the human experience is more valuable than anything that might await us in the afterlife.

Overall, Browning's Sonnet 19 - The soul's Rialto hath its merchandise, is a beautiful and thought-provoking reflection on the human soul. Browning's use of metaphor and imagery creates a vivid picture of the soul's marketplace, and her words invite us to reflect on our own experiences and the things that we value in life. Whether we see the soul as a marketplace or something else entirely, this sonnet reminds us that our experiences are valuable, and that love is the currency that truly matters.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 19, also known as “The soul’s Rialto hath its merchandise,” is a classic piece of poetry that explores the idea of the soul as a marketplace. The poem is a sonnet, which is a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and meter. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in Sonnet 19.

The poem begins with the line “The soul’s Rialto hath its merchandise,” which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The word “Rialto” refers to a famous marketplace in Venice, Italy, which was known for its bustling trade and commerce. By comparing the soul to a marketplace, Browning is suggesting that the soul is a place where goods are bought and sold, and that there is a constant exchange of ideas, emotions, and experiences.

The second line of the poem reads, “I barter curl for curl upon that mart.” Here, Browning is using a metaphor to describe the exchange of physical attributes between two people. The word “curl” refers to a lock of hair, and by saying that she is “bartering curl for curl,” Browning is suggesting that she is exchanging physical attributes with someone else. This could be interpreted as a romantic exchange, where two people are trading physical affection with each other.

The third line of the poem reads, “And from my poet’s forehead to my heart.” Here, Browning is using another metaphor to describe the exchange of ideas and emotions between two people. The phrase “from my poet’s forehead to my heart” suggests that there is a direct connection between the mind and the heart, and that ideas and emotions flow freely between the two.

The fourth line of the poem reads, “He trades in his heart’s blood – I in his art.” Here, Browning is contrasting the exchange of physical attributes with the exchange of ideas and emotions. The phrase “heart’s blood” refers to the deepest, most personal emotions that a person has, and by saying that someone is “trading” in their heart’s blood, Browning is suggesting that they are giving away something very personal and intimate. In contrast, the phrase “his art” refers to the creative output of a person, which is often seen as less personal and more public. By saying that she is “trading” in his art, Browning is suggesting that she is exchanging something that is less personal and more public.

The fifth and sixth lines of the poem read, “He with a poet’s truth, and I with a woman’s faith.” Here, Browning is contrasting the way that men and women approach the exchange of ideas and emotions. The phrase “poet’s truth” suggests that men are more focused on the objective truth of a situation, while the phrase “woman’s faith” suggests that women are more focused on the emotional truth of a situation. By contrasting these two approaches, Browning is suggesting that men and women have different ways of understanding and experiencing the world.

The seventh and eighth lines of the poem read, “He with his heart’s blood paints the thing he sees, / I, with my woman’s dream, can paint it too.” Here, Browning is contrasting the way that men and women express themselves creatively. The phrase “heart’s blood” suggests that men are more focused on expressing their deepest, most personal emotions, while the phrase “woman’s dream” suggests that women are more focused on expressing their imagination and creativity. By contrasting these two approaches, Browning is suggesting that men and women have different ways of expressing themselves creatively.

The ninth and tenth lines of the poem read, “With his own tears he washes what he writes, / I, with my own tears, do read the same.” Here, Browning is contrasting the way that men and women experience emotions. The phrase “his own tears” suggests that men are more likely to express their emotions through physical actions, while the phrase “my own tears” suggests that women are more likely to express their emotions through empathy and understanding. By contrasting these two approaches, Browning is suggesting that men and women have different ways of experiencing emotions.

The eleventh and twelfth lines of the poem read, “And so, together, in such visionary stuff / As dreams are made on, and my words to him.” Here, Browning is suggesting that men and women can come together to create something new and beautiful. The phrase “visionary stuff” suggests that the creative process is a collaborative one, where both men and women can contribute their unique perspectives and experiences. By suggesting that men and women can work together to create something new and beautiful, Browning is celebrating the power of collaboration and creativity.

The thirteenth and fourteenth lines of the poem read, “In his fair large book of the universe, / Himself the whole world’s creator, come.” Here, Browning is suggesting that the creative process is a way for people to connect with the universe and with each other. The phrase “fair large book of the universe” suggests that the universe is a vast, complex, and beautiful place, and that people can use their creativity to explore and understand it. By suggesting that the creative process is a way for people to connect with the universe and with each other, Browning is celebrating the power of creativity to bring people together.

In terms of structure, Sonnet 19 follows the traditional sonnet form, with 14 lines and a specific rhyme scheme and meter. The rhyme scheme is ABBA ABBA CDC DCD, which means that the first eight lines (the octave) have a specific rhyme scheme, and the last six lines (the sestet) have a different rhyme scheme. The meter is iambic pentameter, which means that each line has 10 syllables and follows a specific stress pattern (unstressed/stressed).

In terms of literary devices, Sonnet 19 uses a variety of metaphors and contrasts to explore the themes of creativity, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas and emotions. The use of the marketplace metaphor is particularly effective, as it allows Browning to explore the idea of the soul as a place where goods are bought and sold, and where there is a constant exchange of ideas, emotions, and experiences.

Overall, Sonnet 19 is a beautiful and powerful piece of poetry that explores the themes of creativity, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas and emotions. Through the use of metaphors and contrasts, Browning celebrates the power of creativity to bring people together and to connect them with the universe.

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