Monna Innominata Sonnet 4 I loved you first... by Christina Rossetti Lyrics

"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.