Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | VIII. Wedded Love | Sonnets from the Portuguese
XIV. If thou must love me, let it be for naught | | Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861) |
| | | IF thou must love me, let it be for naught | |
| 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 | 5 |
| A sense of pleasant ease on such a day.” | |
| For these things in themselves, belovèd, 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,— | 10 |
| 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 mayst love on, through love’s eternity. | | | | |
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