| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Michael Drayton. 1563–1631 |
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| 117. The Parting |
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| 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 myself can free. | |
| Shake hands for ever, cancel all our vows, | 5 |
| 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, | 10 |
| 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. | |
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