Michael Drayton (1563-1631)

“Since there's no help, come let us kiss and part”

 
 
 

Since there's no help, come let us kiss and part,

a 
 

Nay I have done, you get no more of me;

b 
 

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

a 
 

That thus so cleanly I myself can free;

b 
 5

Shake hands for ever, cancel all our vows,

c 
 

And when we meet at any time again,

d 
 

Be it not seen in either of our brows

c 
 

That we one lot of former love retain.

d 
 

Now at the last gasp of love's latest breath,

e 
 10

When his pulse failing, passion speechless lies,

f 
 

When faith is kneeling by his bed of death,

e 
 

And innocence is closing up his eyes,

f 
 

— Now if thou would'st, when all have given him over,

g 
 

From death to life thou might'st him yet recover!

g 
 
 

Clipped and marked up from the Sonnet Central Drayton page.

Remarks:

One of the standards, a model of the sonnet's motion from one certainty early, to another late.