Classic Poem

The fairest pearls that Northern seas do breed,
For precious stones from Eastern coasts are sold;
Nought yields the earth that from exchange is freed,
Gold values all, and all things value gold:
Where goodness wants an equal change to make,
There greatness serves, or number place doth take.

No mortal thing can bear so high a price,
But that with mortal thing it may be bought;
The corn of Sicil buys the Western spice;
French wine of us, of them our cloth is sought:
No pearls, no gold, no stones, no corn, no spice,
No cloth, no wine, of Love can pay the price.

What thing is Love, which nought can countervail?
Nought save itself, ev'n such a thing is Love.
All worldly wealth in worth as far doth fail,
As lowest earth doth vield to heav'n above:
Divine is Love, and scorneth worldly pelf,
And can be bought with nothing, but with self.

Such is the price my loving heart would pay;
Such is the pay thy love doth claim as due.
Thy due is love, which I, poor I, assay,
In vain assay to 'quite with friendship true:
True is my love, and true shall ever be,
And truest love is far too base for thee.

Love but thyself, and love thyself alone,
For, save thyself, none can thy love requite:
All mine thou hast, but all as good as none,
My small desert must take a lower flight:
Yet if thou wilt vouchsafe my heart such bliss,
Accept it for thy prisoner as it is.