The Prohibition
- Take heed of loving me;
- At least remember I forbade it thee;
- Not that I shall repair my unthrifty waste
- Of breath and blood, upon thy sighs and tears,
- By being to thee then what to me thou wast;
- But so great joy our life at once outwears;
- Then, lest thy love by my death frustrate be,
- If thou love me, take heed of loving me.
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- Take heed of hating me,
- Or too much triumph in the victory;
- Not that I shall be mine own officer,
- And hate with hate again retaliate;
- But thou wilt lose the style of conqueror
- If I, thy conquest, perish by thy hate;
- Then, lest my being nothing lessen thee,
- If thou hate me, take heed of hating me.
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- Yet, love and hate me too;
- So, these extremes shall neither's office do;
- Love me, that I may die the gentler way;
- Hate me, because thy love is too great for me;
- Or let these two themselves, not me, decay;
- So shall I live thy stage, not triumph be;
- Lest thou thy love and hate and me undo,
- To let me live, O love and hate me too.
From: Songs and Sonnets, 1633.
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