| John Donne (1572–1631). The Poems of John Donne. 1896. | | | | Songs and Sonnets | | Negative Love |
| | | I NEVER stoop’d so low, as they | |
| Which on an eye, cheek, lip, can prey; | |
| Seldom to them which soar no higher | |
| Than virtue, or the mind to admire. | |
| For sense and understanding may | 5 |
| Know what gives fuel to their fire; | |
| My love, though silly, is more brave; | |
| For may I miss, whene’er I crave, | |
| If I know yet what I would have. | |
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| If that be simply perfectest, | 10 |
| Which can by no way 1 be express’d | |
| But negatives, my love is so. | |
| To all, which all love, I say no. | |
| If any who deciphers best, | |
| What we know not—ourselves—can know, | 15 |
| Let him teach me that nothing. This | |
| As yet my ease and comfort is, | |
| Though I speed not, I cannot miss. | |
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