What does but mean? ...whatever Lucretius has said, would not deny but that...

[ConfidenceMan]

Nay, even Venus herself, notwithstanding whatever Lucretius has said, would not deny but that all her virtue were lame and fruitless without the help of my deity.

Well, I thought this construction was parallel to "Love is but poison". But but meaning only and when replaced by only, the sentence sounds quite strange and non-nonsensical. I don't know, I am not a native speaker. Can someone enlighten me? Thanks.

[Ralf]

'Love is but poison' - love is only/merely poison.
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[ConfidenceMan]

Thanks

So the sentence means:

"Nay, even Venus herself, notwithstanding whatever Lucretius has said, would not deny that all her virtue were lame and fruitless without the help of my deity and nothing else or more"?

[ConfidenceMan]

Thank you.

[Ralf]

Hi CM,

Yes, it means as much as '...would not deny that all her virtues were merely lame and fruitless without the help of my deity - and nothing else'.

Take care,

Ralf
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[ConfidenceMan]

There's something that makes me wondering if it is the case though.

Here are two responses I got from another site: