| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Idea | | Sonnet 26. I ever love, where never Hope appears | | Michael Drayton (1563–1631) |
| | [First printed in 1594 (No. 37), and in all later editions.]
To Despair |
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I EVER love, where never Hope appears, | |
| Yet Hope draws on my never-hoping care; | |
| And my life’s Hope would die but for Despair; | |
| My never-certain joy breeds ever certain fears. | |
| Uncertain dread gives wings unto my Hope; | 5 |
| Yet my Hope’s wings are laden so with fear | |
| As they cannot ascend to my Hope’s sphere; | |
| Though fear gives them more than a heavenly scope. | |
| Yet this large room is bounded with Despair, | |
| So my Love is still fettered with vain Hope, | 10 |
| And liberty deprives him of his scope, | |
| And thus am I imprisoned in the air. | |
| Then, sweet Despair, awhile hold up thy head! | |
| Or all my Hope, for sorrow, will be dead. | | | |
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