Monna Innominata, Sonnet 4 (”I loved you first...”)
Christina Rossetti * Track #1 On Monna Innominata: A Sonnet of Sonnets
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Album Monna Innominata: A Sonnet of Sonnets
Monna Innominata, Sonnet 4 ("I loved you first...") by Christina Rossetti
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Christina RossettiAbout
In her foreword, Christina Rossetti claims that Beatrice and Laura, the muses of Dante and Petrarch respectively, were “preceded by a bevy of unnamed ladies ‘donne innominate.’” She writes from the female perspective to demonstrate that these ladies also possess attractiveness, not just charm.
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Monna Innominata, Sonnet 4 (”I loved you first...”) Annotated
"Poca favilla gran fiamma seconda." --Dante.
"Ogni altra cosa, ogni pensier va fore,
E sol ivi con voi rimansi amore."--Petrarca.
I loved you first: but afterwards your love
Outsoaring mine, sang such a loftier song
As drowned the friendly cooings of my dove.
Which owes the other most? my love was long,
And yours one moment seemed to wax more strong;
I loved and guessed at you, you construed me
And loved me for what might or might not be--
Nay, weights and measures do us both a wrong.
For verily love knows not "mine" or "thine;"
With separate "I" and "thou" free love has done,
For one is both and both are one in love:
Rich love knows nought of "thine that is not mine;"
Both have the strength and both the length thereof,
Both of us of the love which makes us one.
Monna Innominata, Sonnet 4 (”I loved you first...”) Q&A
When did Christina Rossetti release Monna Innominata, Sonnet 4 (”I loved you first...”)?
Christina Rossetti released Monna Innominata, Sonnet 4 (”I loved you first...”) on Sat Jan 01 1881.