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
A
sense of 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 cheek 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
may’st love on, through love’s eternity.
From
Sonnets from the Portuguese
Vocabulary:
certes: assuredly
wrought: (old use or lit) made or done
carefully wrought works of literature
wrought by hand
wrought of stone
evermore: (lit) for all future time
He swore to love her evermore.
