| Louis Untermeyer, ed. (1885–1977). Modern British Poetry. 1920. |
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| Richard Aldington. 1892– |
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| 165. Prelude |
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| HOW could I love you more? | |
| I would give up | |
| Even that beauty I have loved too well | |
| That I might love you better. | |
| Alas, how poor the gifts that lovers give— | 5 |
| I can but give you of my flesh and strength, | |
| I can but give you these few passing days | |
| And passionate words that, since our speech began, | |
| All lovers whisper in all ladies' ears. | |
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| I try to think of some one lovely gift | 10 |
| No lover yet in all the world has found; | |
| I think: If the cold sombre gods | |
| Were hot with love as I am | |
| Could they not endow you with a star | |
| And fix bright youth for ever in your limbs? | 15 |
| Could they not give you all things that I lack? | |
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| You should have loved a god; I am but dust. | |
| Yet no god loves as loves this poor frail dust. | |
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