Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The Worlds Best Poetry. Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | I. The Divine Element(God, Christ, the Holy Spirit) | My God, I love Thee | Saint Francis Xavier (15061552) |
| From the Latin by Edward Caswall |
| MY God, I love thee! not because | |
I hope for heaven thereby; | |
Nor because those who love thee not | |
Must burn eternally. | |
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Thou, O my Jesus, thou didst me | 5 |
Upon the cross embrace! | |
For me didst bear the nails and spear, | |
And manifold disgrace, | |
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And griefs and torments numberless, | |
And sweat of agony, | 10 |
Yea, death itself,and all for one | |
That was thine enemy. | |
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Then why, O blessèd Jesus Christ, | |
Should I not love thee well? | |
Not for the hope of winning heaven, | 15 |
Nor of escaping hell; | |
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Not with the hope of gaining aught, | |
Not seeking a reward; | |
But as thyself hast lovèd me, | |
O everlasting Lord! | 20 |
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Een so I love thee, and will love, | |
And in thy praise will sing, | |
Solely because thou art my God, | |
And my eternal King. | | |
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