For two years =
they knew each other with mutual and growing dislike. Bob was the =
wild youth, pushing the envelope of every boundary with a laugh, while =
Teresa was Miss Prim-and-Proper. Both were gifted college =
students, talented, in plays and choirs, but no inclination to think of =
each other at all.
Friday the =
13th of September 1968. Propelled together as upper classmen in a new =
university, they fought a battle of wits – with both well-armed and =
well-armored. Parry and thrust, thrust and parry, and, to end the =
refrain, thrust home. A growing tension of minds, bodies, souls, =
blazing from embers into leaping tongues of fire that could not be =
quenched.
They both =
sought parts in the fall play that season and the casting call required =
reading a dialog or monolog. Given parts at random, they were =
called together by the faculty to read as Robert Browning and Elizabeth =
Barrett.
Elizabeth =
Barrett: What’s another disaster to one who has known little but =
disaster all her life? But you’re a fighter. You were born for victory =
and triumph. Oh, and if disaster ever came to you through me… =
Robert =
Browning: Yes, a fighter. But I’m sick of fighting alone. I need a =
comrade in arms to fight beside me.
Elizabeth =
Barrett: But not one already wounded in battle.
Robert =
Browning: Wounded but undaunted, unbeaten, unbroken. What finer comrade =
could a man ask for?
Elizabeth =
Barrett: Robert, have you ever thought that my strength may break down =
on the journey?
Robert =
Browning: It had occurred to me, yes.
Elizabeth =
Barrett: Supposing I were to die on your hands?
Robert =
Browning: Are you afraid?
Elizabeth =
Barrett: Afraid. You should know that I would rather die with you beside =
me than live a hundred lives without you. But how would you feel if I =
were to die? And what would the world say of you? =
Robert =
Browning: I should be branded as a little better than a murderer. What I =
should feel… I leave you to imagine.
Elizabeth =
Barrett: And yet you ask me to come with you?
Robert =
Browning: Yes. I am prepared to risk your life, much more my own, to get =
you out of that dreadful house and into the sun and to have you for my =
wife.
Elizabeth =
Barrett: You love me like that?
Robert =
Browning: I love you like that.
Elizabeth =
Barrett: Papa, please. I’m not a bad girl, I swear I’m not, only I love =
him, I love him. He’s a good man, it can’t be wrong to love him. I want =
love, I can’t live without love. Oh Papa, remember how you loved Mama =
and how she loved you!
Robert =
Browning: I’m a very modest man.
[lengthy =
pause]
Robert =
Browning: I am, really.
Friday the =
13th of December 1968. He held a ring and held her hand. Having =
met more than his match in every phase of life, he was conquered by =
love.
She answered his request for marriage with Elizabeth Barrett =
Browning’s sonnet . . .
How do I love =
thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to =
the depth and breadth and height
My soul can =
reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends =
of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to =
the level of every day’s
Most quiet =
need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee =
freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee =
purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee =
with the passion put to use
In my old =
grief’s, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee =
with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost =
saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, =
of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but =
love thee better after death.
June 19, 1970 =
– 52 years ago this weekend, in a small Baptist church, two young =
starry-eyed graduates stepped out to share with each other and all who =
had gathered their vows of eternal love to each =
other.
And so we =
commit again to Browning’s immortal words:
Grow old along =
with me! The best is yet to be,
the last of =
life, for which the first was made.
Our times are =
in His hand who saith,
‘A whole I =
planned – youth shows but half.
Trust God: See =
all, nor be afraid!’
[Teresa and =
Bob Griffin, June 19th and happily ever =
after]
~~
Dr Bob Griffin =
[email protected] www.grif.net =
"Jesus =
Knows Me, This I =
Love!"