Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume III. Sorrow and Consolation. 1904. | | | | II. Parting and Absence | | “Come, let us kisse and parte” | | Michael Drayton (1563–1631) |
| | | SINCE there ’s no helpe,—come, let us kisse and parte, | |
| Nay, I have done,—you get no more of me; | |
| And I am glad,—yea, glad with all my hearte, | |
| That thus so cleanly I myselfe can free. | |
| Shake hands forever!—cancel all our vows; | 5 |
| And when we meet at any time againe, | |
| Be it not seene in either of our brows, | |
| That we one jot of former love retaine. | |
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| Now—at the last gaspe 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 mightst him yet recover. | | | | |
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