When a fool loves a foreigner,
he loves her solely for herself and himself.
Maybe he savors her qualities --
her smile, her hair --
but he shares not her ambitions.
He shuns her friends;
he despises her father;
he is hated by her mother;
he is disgraced by her brother;
he loves not her god;
he speaks not her tongue.
Indeed, he enjoys this tree much,
but only for its fruit.

But you I love for all parts.
I make my desires accord with yours.
I accept your friends as my friends,
and count your family among my own.
Because I love you, I also love your culture.
I want to hear your lilting language,
and welcome its syllables into my heart,
and greet you each morning with new words.
Yes, even your god I love!
I love each root and fruit and stem of this tree:
your whole soul, and all its attachments....
...and that makes twice the fool of me!