Sonnet 38. Sitting alone, Love bids me go and write!

Michael Drayton (1563–1631)

[First printed in 1594 (No. 31), and in all later editions.]

SITTING alone, Love bids me go and write!

Reason plucks back, commanding me to stay!

Boasting that She doth still direct the way,

Or else Love were unable to indite.

Love growing angry, vexèd at the spleen,

And scorning Reason’s maimèd argument,

Straight taxeth Reason, wanting to invent

Where She with Love conversing hath not been.

Reason reproachèd with this coy disdain,

Despiteth Love, and laugheth at her folly:

And Love contemning Reason’s reason wholly,

Thought it in weight too light by many a grain.

Reason put back, doth out of sight remove;

And Love alone picks reason out of love.