Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | | | I. The Divine Element—(God, Christ, the Holy Spirit) | | “My God, I love Thee” | | Saint Francis Xavier (1506–1552) |
| | From the Latin by Edward Caswall |
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MY God, I love thee! not because | |
| I hope for heaven thereby; | |
| Nor because those who love thee not | |
| Must burn eternally. | |
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| Thou, O my Jesus, thou didst me | 5 |
| Upon the cross embrace! | |
| For me didst bear the nails and spear, | |
| And manifold disgrace, | |
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| And griefs and torments numberless, | |
| And sweat of agony, | 10 |
| Yea, death itself,—and all for one | |
| That was thine enemy. | |
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| Then why, O blessèd Jesus Christ, | |
| Should I not love thee well? | |
| Not for the hope of winning heaven, | 15 |
| Nor of escaping hell; | |
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| Not with the hope of gaining aught, | |
| Not seeking a reward; | |
| But as thyself hast lovèd me, | |
| O everlasting Lord! | 20 |
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| E’en so I love thee, and will love, | |
| And in thy praise will sing,— | |
| Solely because thou art my God, | |
| And my eternal King. | | | |
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