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Take heed of loving me; |
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At least remember, I forbade it thee; |
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Not that I shall repair my unthrifty waste |
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Of breath and blood, upon thy sighs, and tears, |
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By being to thee then what to me thou wast; |
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But so great joy our life at once outwears. |
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Then, lest thy love, by my death, frustrate be, |
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If thou love me, take heed of loving me. |
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Take heed of hating me, |
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Or too much triumph in the victory; |
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Not that I shall be mine own officer, |
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And hate with hate again retaliate; |
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But thou wilt lose the style of conqueror, |
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If I, thy conquest, perish by thy hate. |
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Then, lest my being nothing lessen thee, |
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If thou hate me, take heed of hating me. |
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Yet, love and hate me too, |
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So, these extremes shall ne'er their office do; |
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Love me, that I may die the gentler way; |
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Hate me, because thy love is too great for me; |
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Or let these two, themselves, not me, decay; |
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So shall I live thy stage, not triumph be; |
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Lest thou thy love and hate, and me undo, |
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O let me live, yet love and hate me too. |
