If Must Love Me

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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 even more

Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.