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Originally Printed in 1569
LOVE me little, love me long! | |
| Is the burden of my song: | |
| Love that is too hot and strong | |
| Burneth soon to waste. | |
| Still I would not have thee cold,— | 5 |
| Not too backward, nor too bold; | |
| Love that lasteth till ’t is old | |
| Fadeth not in haste. | |
| Love me little, love me long! | |
| Is the burden of my song. | 10 |
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| If thou lovest me too much, | |
| ’T will not prove as true a touch; | |
| Love me little more than such,— | |
| For I fear the end. | |
| I ’m with little well content, | 15 |
| And a little from thee sent | |
| Is enough, with true intent | |
| To be steadfast, friend. | |
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| Say thou lovest me, while thou live | |
| I to thee my love will give, | 20 |
| Never dreaming to deceive | |
| While that life endures; | |
| Nay, and after death, in sooth, | |
| I to thee will keep my truth, | |
| As now when in my May of youth: | 25 |
| This my love assures. | |
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| Constant love is moderate ever, | |
| And it will through life persever; | |
| Give me that with true endeavor,— | |
| I will it restore. | 30 |
| A suit of durance let it be, | |
| For all weathers,—that for me,— | |
| For the land or for the sea: | |
| Lasting evermore. | |
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| Winter’s cold or summer’s heat, | 35 |
| Autumn’s tempests on it beat; | |
| It can never know defeat, | |
| Never can rebel. | |
| Such the love that I would gain, | |
| Such the love, I tell thee plain, | 40 |
| Thou must give, or woo in vain: | |
| So to thee—farewell! | |
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