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 [certes: certainly]
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day' --
For these things in themselves, Belov\`ed, may
Be changed, or change for thee, -- and love, so wrought [wrought: worked]
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 for love's sake, that evermore
Thou may'st love on, through love's eternity.
