| Louis Untermeyer, ed. (18851977). Modern British Poetry. 1920. |
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| Douglas Hyde. 1860 |
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| 34. I Shall Not Die for Thee |
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| FOR thee, I shall not die, | |
| Woman of high fame and name; | |
| Foolish men thou mayest slay | |
| I and they are not the same. | |
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| Why should I expire | 5 |
| For the fire of an eye, | |
| Slender waist or swan-like limb, | |
| Is't for them that I should die? | |
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| The round breasts, the fresh skin, | |
| Cheeks crimson, hair so long and rich; | 10 |
| Indeed, indeed, I shall not die, | |
| Please God, not I, for any such. | |
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| The golden hair, the forehead thin, | |
| The chaste mien, the gracious ease, | |
| The rounded heel, the languid tone, | 15 |
| Fools alone find death from these. | |
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| Thy sharp wit, thy perfect calm, | |
| Thy thin palm like foam o' the sea; | |
| Thy white neck, thy blue eye, | |
| I shall not die for thee. | 20 |
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| Woman, graceful as the swan, | |
| A wise man did nurture me. | |
| Little palm, white neck, bright eye, | |
| I shall not die for ye. | |
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