Poem by Michael Drayton

Sonnet 5. Nothing but

Nothing but "No," and "Aye," and "Aye," and "No"?
How falls it out so strangely you reply?
I tell ye, Fair, I'll not be answer'd so,
With this affirming "No," denying "Aye."
I say, "I love," you slightly answer "Aye";
I say, "You love," you pule me out a "No";
I say, "I die," you echo me an "Aye";
"Save me," I cry, you sigh me out a "No";
Must woe and I have nought but "No" and "Aye"?
No I am I, if I no more can have;
Answer no more, with silence make reply,
And let me take myself what I do crave.
    Let "No" and "Aye" with I and you be so; 
    Then answer "No," and "Aye," and "Aye" and "No."

1. Sonnet 16. Mongst all the Creatures in this Spacious Round
2. Sonnet 34. Marvel not, Love
3. Roc
4. Sonnet 38. Sitting Alone, Love
5. Sonnet 24. I Hear Some Say

Print

1241 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version