Have you heard of Elizabeth Taylor? The famous actress who married 8 times? Well here she is.
The first time I saw her photo, I thought to myself, 'Wow, what a beautiful woman..."
But do you know why I came across this woman?
Because she was listed as one of the world's greatest romantics!!!
Okay, young girl that I am, I am not at all a qualified judge of who is a romantic and who's not, but I definitely do not think that 8 weddings qualify you to be a romantic!
This is what I found on www.history.com:
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton met on the set of Cleopatra, when both were married to other people; their affair soon made headlines around the world and earned a public rebuke from no lesser authority than the Vatican. Their own married life together was a study in extremes, soaked in alcohol and characterized by a passion that was no less intense when they were fighting than when they were getting along. After divorcing in 1973, they found it impossible to stay apart and remarried in 1975, only to break up four months later.
......
I admit I'm old-fashioned.
And I consider myself a romantic. =)
And she, in my dictionary, definitely does NOT count as a romantic.
What is a romantic?
Haha... good question.
Someone who loves romance, romancing and being romanced.
Someone who believes in everlasting love.
At least that's what I think.
Note: think =P
Now, guess who this is??
No clue? This is Robert Browning.
He, along with his wife, Elizabeth Barrett Browning was voted one of the greatest couple of all time by the same website.
This time, I have to agree.
Their story is so sweet and romantic! (Yes I know that word's getting over-used)
Here's the shortened version of their story:
Both of them are poets.
In 1845, Robert fell in love with her simply after reading her volume of published poems, entitled... what else? Poems.
He was 32 then I think, she was 39, and they had never met.
He wrote to her telling her how much he loved her verses...
Over the next 20 months, they wrote approximately 600 letters to each other!!
Unfortunately (somehow there must always be obstacles in order for true love to surface- ironic, this world),
Elizabeth's dad was incredibly tyrannical and refused to allow any of his children to marry, and especially not Elizabeth, who was purported to be his favourite!
Besides,
Elizabeth had been suffering from a mysterious illness all her life
(Doesn't it sound like some korean drama now? =p ),
which symptoms include spasms of pain and breathing difficulties...
long and short of it was that she was an invalid and almost never left the house
and was likely to continue suffering from that illness for the rest of her life.
I gather that she didn't want to fall in love with him,
but eventually did.
The power of his love~
And the romance in his writings~
I'm getting gushy.
*composes self*
Okay, so she fell madly in love,
and they got married anyway.
Elizabeth often said that their romance saved her life...
Their love also boosted both their careers,
as both went on to be great poets.
Elizabeth died in her husband's arms in 1861...
(Awww...)
For those who want the complete unabridged version of their love story, please click here.
Presenting... Elizabeth Barrett Browning!
You'll Love Me Yet
By Robert Browning
You'll love me yet!—and I can tarry
Your love's protracted growing:
June reared that bunch of flowers you carry
From seeds of April's sowing.
I plant a heartful now: some seed
At least is sure to strike,
And yield—what you'll not pluck indeed,
Not love, but, may be, like!
You'll look at least on love's remains,
A grave's one violet:
Your look?—that pays a thousand pains.
What's death?—You'll love me yet!
Guess this was when he was still courting her =)
Sonnet 14- If Thou Must Love Me
By Elizabeth Browning
If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
'I love her for her smile—her look—her way
Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day'—
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,—and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,—
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.
Her reply perhaps?
I prefer her poems to his, as I can relate to them better, but to each his own =)
I was listening to Jay Chou's White Windmill 白色风车...
白色的风车
安静的纯真
真实的感觉
梦境般遥远
甜甜的海水
复杂的眼泪
看你傻笑着
握住我的手
梦希望没有尽头
我们走到这就好
因为我不想太快走完这幸福
很可惜没有祝福
但爱你并不孤独
不会再让你哭
我陪你走到最后
能不能不要回头
你紧紧地抱住我
说你不需要承诺
你说我若一个人会比较自由
我不懂你说什么
反正不会松手
我陪你走到最后
能不能别想太多
会不会手牵着手
晚一点再到尽头
你说不该再相见只为了瞬间
谢谢你让我听见
因为我在等待永远
真实的感觉, 梦境般遥远...
Honest feelings are as faraway as dreamland is...
你说不该再相见只为了瞬间...
You said we shouldn't meet again for the sake of the moment of meeting...
因为我在等待永远
Because I'm waiting for forever
Somehow the lyrics lose their beauty when translated to English.
He, along with his wife, Elizabeth Barrett Browning was voted one of the greatest couple of all time by the same website.
This time, I have to agree.
Their story is so sweet and romantic! (Yes I know that word's getting over-used)
Here's the shortened version of their story:
Both of them are poets.
In 1845, Robert fell in love with her simply after reading her volume of published poems, entitled... what else? Poems.
He was 32 then I think, she was 39, and they had never met.
He wrote to her telling her how much he loved her verses...
Over the next 20 months, they wrote approximately 600 letters to each other!!
Unfortunately (somehow there must always be obstacles in order for true love to surface- ironic, this world),
Elizabeth's dad was incredibly tyrannical and refused to allow any of his children to marry, and especially not Elizabeth, who was purported to be his favourite!
Besides,
Elizabeth had been suffering from a mysterious illness all her life
(Doesn't it sound like some korean drama now? =p ),
which symptoms include spasms of pain and breathing difficulties...
long and short of it was that she was an invalid and almost never left the house
and was likely to continue suffering from that illness for the rest of her life.
I gather that she didn't want to fall in love with him,
but eventually did.
The power of his love~
And the romance in his writings~
I'm getting gushy.
*composes self*
Okay, so she fell madly in love,
and they got married anyway.
Elizabeth often said that their romance saved her life...
Their love also boosted both their careers,
as both went on to be great poets.
Elizabeth died in her husband's arms in 1861...
(Awww...)
For those who want the complete unabridged version of their love story, please click here.
Presenting... Elizabeth Barrett Browning!
Their poems are amazing... I'm serious!! Summon your patience, and feast your eyes... and feel the poem... aha I'm crapping...
You'll Love Me Yet
By Robert Browning
You'll love me yet!—and I can tarry
Your love's protracted growing:
June reared that bunch of flowers you carry
From seeds of April's sowing.
I plant a heartful now: some seed
At least is sure to strike,
And yield—what you'll not pluck indeed,
Not love, but, may be, like!
You'll look at least on love's remains,
A grave's one violet:
Your look?—that pays a thousand pains.
What's death?—You'll love me yet!
Guess this was when he was still courting her =)
Sonnet 14- If Thou Must Love Me
By Elizabeth Browning
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
'I love her for her smile—her look—her way
Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day'—
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,—and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,—
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.
I prefer her poems to his, as I can relate to them better, but to each his own =)
I was listening to Jay Chou's White Windmill 白色风车...
白色的风车
安静的纯真
真实的感觉
梦境般遥远
甜甜的海水
复杂的眼泪
看你傻笑着
握住我的手
梦希望没有尽头
我们走到这就好
因为我不想太快走完这幸福
很可惜没有祝福
但爱你并不孤独
不会再让你哭
我陪你走到最后
能不能不要回头
你紧紧地抱住我
说你不需要承诺
你说我若一个人会比较自由
我不懂你说什么
反正不会松手
我陪你走到最后
能不能别想太多
会不会手牵着手
晚一点再到尽头
你说不该再相见只为了瞬间
谢谢你让我听见
因为我在等待永远
真实的感觉, 梦境般遥远...
Honest feelings are as faraway as dreamland is...
你说不该再相见只为了瞬间...
You said we shouldn't meet again for the sake of the moment of meeting...
因为我在等待永远
Because I'm waiting for forever
Somehow the lyrics lose their beauty when translated to English.
复杂的眼泪...
I tasted them tonight =)
But I felt better
So don't worry
All you nice, caring people out there.
Have a blessed Valentine's Day!
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
~Corinthians 13:7-8
I tasted them tonight =)
But I felt better
So don't worry
All you nice, caring people out there.
Have a blessed Valentine's Day!
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
~Corinthians 13:7-8
2 comments:
Constantly draw healing and strength from God.
He will take care of everything, your past, present and future
hey rachel!! i found your blog through facebook! nice place you got here! i love the post on valentines! hope all's good with you in monash, heard you orientation is in PD! sounds like heaps of fun! take care and hope to bump into yah soon! *hugs*
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