The Prohibition
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ake heed of loving me;At least remember I forbade it thee;Not that I shall repair my unthrifty wasteOf 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. 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 conquerorIf I, thy conquest, perish by thy hate;Then, lest my being nothing lessen thee,If thou hate me, take heed of hating me. 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.
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