If Thou Must Love Me — Elizabeth Barrett Browning

If thou must love me, let it be for noughtExcept for love's sake only. Do not say"I love her for her smile . . her look . . her wayOf speaking gently, . . for a trick of thoughtThat falls in well with mine, and certes broughtA sense of pleasant ease on such a day"—For these things in themselves, Beloved, mayBe changed, or change for thee,—and love so wrought,May be unwrought so. Neither love me forThine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,Since one might well forget to weep who boreThy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby.But love me for love's sake, that evermoreThou may'st love on through love's eternity.