DEAR, if you love me, hold me most your friend, br Chosen from out the many who would bear br Your gladness gladly - heavily your care; br Who best can sympathize, best comprehend, br Where others fail; who, breathless to the end, br Follows your tale of joy or of despair: br Hold me your counsellor, because I dare br To lift my hand to guide you, that I lend br My love to help you. And I would you knew br That I am fair enough to win men's hearts, br If so I willed; yet honor me above br All other women, since I am too true br To trap you with my sex's smaller arts. br Deem me all these, but love me as your love.