No, Thank You, John

I never said I loved you, John:         Why will you tease me day by day,     And wax a weariness to think upon         With always 'do' and 'pray'?     You know I never loved you, John;         No fault of mine made me your toast:     Why will you haunt me with a face as wan         As shows an hour-old ghost?     I dare say Meg or Moll would take         Pity upon you, if you'd ask:     And pray don't remain single for my sake         Who can't perform that task.     I have no heart?--Perhaps I have not;         But then you're mad to take offence     That I don't give you what I have not got:         Use your own common sense.     Let bygones be bygones:         Don't call me false, who owed not to be true:     I'd rather answer 'No' to fifty Johns         Than answer 'Yes' to you.     Let's mar our pleasant days no more,         Song-birds of passage, days of youth:     Catch at to-day, forget the days before:         I'll wink at your untruth.     Let us strike hands as hearty friends;         No more, no less; and friendship's good:     Only don't keep in view ulterior ends,         And points not understood     In open treaty. Rise above         Quibbles and shuffling off and on:     Here's friendship for you if you like; but love,--         No, thank you, John.