A.E. Housman

Oh, when I was in love with you, Then I was clean and brave And miles around the wonder grew How well I did behave. And now the fancy passes by, And nothing will remain, And miles around they'll say that I Am quite myself again.

Clay lies still, but blood's a rover; Breath's a ware that will not keep. Up, lad: when the journey's over There'll be time enough to sleep.

Oh they're taking him to prison for the color of his hair.

Mithridates, he died old. Housman's passage is based on the belief of the ancients that Mithridates the Great [c. 135-63 B.C.] had so saturated his body with poisons that none could injure him. When captured by the Romans he tried in vain to poison himself, then ordered a Gallic mercenary to kill him.

Earth and high heaven are fixed of old and founded strong.

We now to peace and darkness And earth and thee restore Thy creature that thou madest And wilt cast forth no more.

These, in the day when heaven was falling, The hour when earth's foundations fled, Followed their mercenary calling And took their wages and are dead. The British regulars who made the retreat from Mons, beginning August 24, 1914.

Give me a land of boughs in leaf,
A land of trees that stand;
Where trees are fallen there is grief;
I love no leafless land.