Richard Watson Gilder

The New Day. Part 3. 6. “Love Me Not, Love, for That I First Loved Thee”

Love me not, Love, for that I first loved thee;
⁠     Nor love me, Love, for thy sweet pity's sake,
⁠     In knowledge of the mortal pain and ache
     ⁠Which is the fruit of love's blood-veinèd tree.
Let others for my love give love to me;
⁠     From other souls, O, gladly will I take,
⁠     This burning, heart-dry thirst of love to slake,
     ⁠What seas of human pity there may be!
Nay, nay, I care no more how love may grow,
⁠     So that I hear thee answer to my call;
⁠     Love me because my piteous tears do flow,
Or that my love for thee did first befall.
⁠     Love me or late or early, fast or slow—
⁠     But love me, Love, for love is all in all!