English Poetry II: From Collins to Fitzgerald.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
591. Sonnets from the Portuguese
XIVI
Except for love’s sake only. Do not say
“I love her for her smile—her look—her way
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant 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 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.