Poem by 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!

1. The New Day. Part 4. 17. “He Knows Not the Path of Duty”
2. The New Day. Part 3. 12. Denial
3. The New Day. Part 3. 19. Thistle-Down
4. The New Day. Part 4. 4. Song (Not from the whole wide world I chose thee)
5. The New Day. Part 3. 22. The Lover's Lord and Master

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