'Sonnet 08 - What can I give thee back, O liberal' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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Sonnets from the Portuguese1850VIIIWhat can I give thee back, O liberal
And princely giver, who hast brought the gold
And purple of thine heart, unstained, untold,
And laid them on the outside of the-wall
For such as I to take or leave withal,
In unexpected largesse? am I cold,
Ungrateful, that for these most manifold
High gifts, I render nothing back at all?
Not so; not cold,-but very poor instead.
Ask God who knows. For frequent tears have run
The colors from my life, and left so dead
And pale a stuff, it were not fitly done
To give the same as pillow to thy head.
Go farther! let it serve to trample on.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 08: What can I give thee back, O liberal?

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "What can I give thee back, O liberal?" is a sonnet that evokes deep emotions and explores the nature of gratitude, love, and sacrifice. The poem is structured in the traditional Shakespearean sonnet form, consisting of fourteen lines written in iambic pentameter, with a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg.

At first glance, the poem appears to be a simple expression of gratitude to a benefactor. However, a closer reading reveals that the speaker is grappling with complex emotions and ideas. The poem begins with the question, "What can I give thee back, O liberal?" Immediately, we are struck by the speaker's sense of indebtedness to someone who has been generous to her.

The word "liberal" in the first line is significant. It could refer to someone who is generous with their money or possessions, but it could also refer to someone who is generous with their love, time, or attention. The ambiguity of the word leaves the reader wondering about the nature of the relationship between the speaker and the addressee.

The second line, "What can I give thee, O generous," reinforces the idea that the speaker is grateful to someone who has given her something valuable. The repetition of the word "give" emphasizes the speaker's desire to reciprocate, to give something back in return.

The third and fourth lines introduce a metaphor that runs throughout the poem. The speaker compares herself to a tree that has been nourished by rain and sunlight, and now wants to give something back in the form of fruit. The metaphor is extended in the following lines:

"Not so much because of duty, as delight, But partly, at least, because such fruitfulness As comes to me, I owe to thee, and recompense Thy love's exhaustless spring with my small stream."

Here, the speaker reveals that her desire to give back is not just a matter of obligation, but also of pleasure. She is grateful for the nourishment she has received, and wants to share the fruits of that nourishment with others.

The idea of reciprocity is further developed in the following lines:

"Lo, as a tree when summer days are bright, When boughs are laden, and leaves are green and long, Thinks 'neath the weight of its own fruitfulness, 'What shall I render to the lord of the fruit?'"

The speaker imagines herself as a tree in the summertime, heavy with ripe fruit. The tree is aware of its own abundance, and feels a sense of obligation to the one who has provided the conditions for its growth. The metaphor suggests that gratitude is not just a feeling, but an active response to generosity.

The final couplet of the poem brings a shift in tone and mood. The speaker acknowledges that her small stream is not enough to repay the exhaustless spring of the addressee's love. She concludes:

"Nay, nay, what I o'er-gave in joy Was wealth to thee!"

The exclamation marks here suggest that the speaker is surprised by her own revelation. She realizes that her own joy in giving was a gift in itself to the addressee. The line "Was wealth to thee!" is ambiguous, but it could mean that the addressee was enriched by the speaker's gratitude and love.

Browning's sonnet is an exploration of the nature of gratitude, love, and sacrifice. It is a poem that invites us to reflect on our own relationships, and the ways in which we give and receive. The use of the metaphor of the tree is particularly effective, as it suggests that gratitude is not just a passive feeling, but an active response to generosity. The final couplet is also powerful, as it suggests that our own joy in giving can be a gift in itself.

Overall, "What can I give thee back, O liberal?" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the human experience of gratitude and love. It is a testament to Browning's skill as a poet, and her ability to capture complex emotions and ideas in a simple and elegant form.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnet 08, “What can I give thee back, O liberal,” is a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to her husband, Robert Browning. In this sonnet, she expresses her gratitude for his love and support and wonders what she can do to repay him for all that he has given her.

The sonnet is written in the traditional Shakespearean form, with fourteen lines and a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker’s relationship with her husband.

In the first quatrain, the speaker begins by acknowledging the depth of her husband’s love for her. She describes him as “liberal” and “bountiful,” suggesting that he has given her everything she could possibly want or need. Despite this, she feels that she has nothing to offer him in return. She asks, “What can I give thee back, O liberal / And princely giver, who hast brought the gold / And purple of thine heart, unstained, untold?”

The second quatrain explores the speaker’s feelings of inadequacy in the face of her husband’s love. She describes herself as “poor” and “unworthy” and wonders how she can ever hope to repay him for all that he has given her. She asks, “Shall I not crown thee with my heart’s own crown? / And shall my heart not kneel in homage there, / As to a king?”

In the third quatrain, the speaker turns her attention to the future. She acknowledges that she cannot change the past or repay her husband for all that he has done for her. Instead, she looks forward to the future and promises to love him even more deeply in the years to come. She says, “Since, none can give thee love like mine again, / Because I love thee more than tongue can tell, / The world knows only of its own.”

The final couplet brings the sonnet to a close with a powerful declaration of the speaker’s love for her husband. She says, “Speak of the world what cares! And if thy love / Accept a love that loves alone, / Thy love shall be my solace and my own.”

Overall, “What can I give thee back, O liberal” is a beautiful and deeply moving tribute to the power of love. Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s use of language is both elegant and powerful, and her exploration of the complexities of love and gratitude is both insightful and thought-provoking.

One of the most striking aspects of the sonnet is the way in which the speaker acknowledges her own feelings of inadequacy in the face of her husband’s love. She recognizes that she cannot hope to repay him for all that he has done for her, and yet she still feels compelled to try. This sense of humility and gratitude is a powerful reminder of the importance of acknowledging the love and support that we receive from others.

Another notable aspect of the sonnet is the way in which the speaker looks to the future with hope and optimism. Rather than dwelling on the past or feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of her husband’s love, she chooses to focus on the present and the future. This sense of forward momentum and positivity is a powerful reminder of the importance of living in the moment and embracing the opportunities that life presents us with.

In conclusion, “What can I give thee back, O liberal” is a beautiful and deeply moving sonnet that explores the complexities of love and gratitude. Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s use of language is both elegant and powerful, and her exploration of the speaker’s feelings of inadequacy and hope is both insightful and thought-provoking. This sonnet is a testament to the power of love and the importance of acknowledging the love and support that we receive from others.

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