Sonnet 61. Since there ’s no help, Come, let us kiss and part!

Michael Drayton (1563–1631)

[First printed in 1619.]

SINCE there ’s no help, Come, let us kiss and part!

Nay, I have done. You get no more of me!

And I am glad, yea, glad, with all my heart,

That thus so cleanly, I my self can free.

Shake hands for ever! Cancel all our vows!

And when we meet at any time again,

Be it not seen in either of our brows,

That we one jot of former love retain!

Now at the last gasp of LOVE’s latest breath.

When his pulse failing, Passion speechless lies;

When Faith is kneeling by his bed of death,

And Innocence is closing up his eyes:

Now, if thou wouldst! when all have given him over,

From death to life, thou might’st him yet recover!