If Thou Must Love Me

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 changed
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 their comfort long, and lose their love thereby.
But love me for love's sake, that evermore thou mayst love on,
Through love's eternity.