if thou must love me, let it be for nought
if thou must love me, let it be for nought
except for love's sake only. do not say-
"i love her for her smile-her look-her 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, beloved, 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 tears dry-
a creature might forget to weep, who bore
thy comfort long, and lose their love thereby!
but love me for love's sake, that evermore
thou may'st love on, through Love's eternity
-elizabeth barrett browning
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