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 evermore
Thou may'st love on, through love's eternity.

--Elizabeth Barrett Browning