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Death—(Aesch., Fr., 156.)

Andrew Lang

Of all Gods Death alone
Disdaineth sacrifice:
No man hath found or shown
The gift that Death would prize.
In vain are songs or sighs,
Paaen, or praise, or moan,
Alone beneath the skies
Hath Death no altar-stone!

There is no head so dear
That men would grudge to Death;
Let Death but ask, we give
All gifts that we may live;
But though Death dwells so near,
We know not what he saith.
Online text © 1998-2008 Poetry X. All rights reserved.
From Rhymes a la Mode | Kegan Paul, Trench & Co., 1885
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