If Thou Must Love Me
Elizabeth Barrett Browing (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

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 cheeks dry:

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.