| Herbert J.C. Grierson, ed. (1886–1960). Metaphysical Lyrics & Poems of the 17th C. 1921. |
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| John Donne |
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| 5. Song |
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| SWEETEST love, I do not goe, | |
| For wearinesse of thee, | |
| Nor in hope the world can show | |
| A fitter Love for mee; | |
| But since that I | 5 |
| Must dye at last, 'tis best, | |
| To use my selfe in jest | |
| Thus by fain'd deaths to dye; | |
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| Yesternight the Sunne went hence, | |
| And yet is here to day, | 10 |
| He hath no desire nor sense, | |
| Nor halfe so short a way: | |
| Then feare not mee, | |
| But beleeve that I shall make | |
| Speedier journeyes, since I take | 15 |
| More wings and spurres then hee. | |
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| O how feeble is mans power | |
| That if good fortune fall, | |
| Cannot adde another houre, | |
| Nor a lost houre recall! | 20 |
| But come bad chance, | |
| And wee joyne to'it our strength, | |
| And wee teach it art and length, | |
| It selfe o'r us to'advance. | |
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| When thou sigh'st, thou sigh'st not winde, | 25 |
| But sigh'st my soule away, | |
| When thou weep'st, unkindly kinde, | |
| My lifes blood doth decay. | |
| It cannot bee | |
| That thou lov'st mee, as thou say'st, | 30 |
| If in thine my life thou waste, | |
| Thou art the best of mee. | |
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| Let not thy divining heart | |
| Forethinke me any ill, | |
| Destiny may take thy part, | 35 |
| And may thy feares fulfill; | |
| But thinke that wee | |
| Are but turn'd aside to sleepe; | |
| They who one another keepe | |
| Alive, ne'r parted bee. | 40 |
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