If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love’ s sake only. Do not say
“ I love her for her smileher lookher 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, Belovë d, 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 may’ st love on, through love’ s eternity.