So, fall asleep love, loved by me... for I know love, I am loved

O children of the future, listen carefully to the words of Robert Browning, whose heart poured forth wisdom from the deepest wells of human emotion. He once spoke these tender words: “So, fall asleep love, loved by me... for I know love, I am loved by thee.” In these lines, Browning encapsulates the beauty of reciprocal love, that sacred exchange between two souls that offers both peace and security. This is not love as a fleeting passion, but as a steady, comforting force that transcends time and circumstance, binding two hearts together with an unspoken promise.

Consider, O children, the power of falling asleep in the embrace of love. To fall asleep, to rest, is to surrender oneself to trust, to give oneself over to the care of another. When Browning speaks of love as something that allows one to fall asleep, he is speaking of a love that brings peace—a love that holds you in safety, that does not demand but simply offers. In the quiet of the night, when the world falls away and we are left with nothing but the beating of our hearts, it is the love of another that allows us to lay down our burdens and rest in the comfort of being loved. This is the sanctuary of love, a haven where anxiety and fear are soothed by the steady rhythm of affection.

Think, O children, of the love between Heloise and Abelard, whose passionate bond was tested by time and separation. Despite their separation, despite the trials of exile and distance, their love was a refuge—one that allowed them to face their pain with courage and grace. Heloise, in her letters, speaks of love that sustained her even in the absence of her beloved. She found comfort not in physical presence, but in the knowledge that she was loved. This deep, abiding trust in their love allowed her to rest in the knowledge that their bond was unbreakable, no matter the distance between them. To fall asleep in love, to rest in the assurance that you are loved, is to know the deepest peace the heart can find.

Consider, too, the enduring love between Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning. Their love, though separated by time and circumstance, was a deep and abiding connection. Through letters, through words, they expressed the very soul of their affection. For Elizabeth, especially, love was not simply a physical presence, but a spiritual connection that transcended the barriers of distance. Robert’s words to her—like those of Browning's poem—offered her the peace that comes when one knows they are deeply loved, when the heart rests in the sure knowledge that the other shares their affection.

In Browning's words, we see a deep trust—a trust that love is not fleeting, but something constant, something that endures through time. “Loved by me” and “loved by thee”—these are not just words of affection, but words of a promise, a commitment that speaks of love's strength and mutuality. For love, in its truest form, is not a one-way street. It is a shared journey, where two souls walk together in unity and support. This mutual love, Browning reminds us, is what allows one to rest, to fall asleep in peace, for when we are loved, we are given the greatest gift: the freedom to be our truest selves.

Now, O children, reflect on this: the love that allows you to rest, to find peace in the arms of another, is not a love that is conditional or fleeting. It is a love that is constant, secure, and enduring. It is a love that asks for nothing but offers everything in return. It is the love of those who walk beside you through life's trials, who hold you when you are weary, who celebrate you even in the darkest times. This is the love Browning speaks of—the love that comforts the soul and offers rest to the heart. It is a safe haven, a refuge from the storms of life.

Therefore, I charge you, O seekers of wisdom, to cultivate love that is both giving and receiving, a love that offers peace and comfort, a love that allows another to fall asleep in the assurance that they are loved. Be this love for those who walk with you in life—your friends, your family, your beloved. Let your love be the sanctuary in which others may rest, and let your own heart find that same peace in the love that surrounds you. Know that to be loved is one of life’s greatest gifts, and to love is to offer the world a place of refuge, where hearts can rest and souls can find their home.