Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HOW CAN MAN DIE BETTER, by TYRTAEUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HOW CAN MAN DIE BETTER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Noble is he who falls in front of battle
Last Line: Grip the ground astride, press teeth to lip.
Alternate Author Name(s): Tyrtaios
Subject(s): War


NOBLE is he who falls in front of battle
bravely fighting for his native land;
and wretchedest the man who begs, a recreant,
citiless, from fertile acres fled.
Dear mother, ageing father, little children
drift beside him, and his wedded wife;
unwelcome he shall be, wherever turning,
press'd by want and hateful penury;
he shames his folk and cheats his glorious manhood;
all disgrace attends him, all despite.
Come then, -- if beggars go unheard, uncared for,
spurn'd in life and in their children spurn'd --
with courage let us battle for our country,
freely spending life to save our sons.
Young men, stand firm and fight, stand one by other;
base retreat and rout let none begin.
Be high of heart, be strong in pride of combat;
grapple, self-forgetting, man to man.
Forbear to fly, deserting men grown older --
stiff about the knees, in honour old.
O foul reproach, when fallen with the foremost
lies an elder, hindermost the young --
a man whose head is white, whose beard is hoary,
breathing out his strong soul in the dust,
In nakedness his blood-wet members clutching --
foul reproach, a sight no gods condone!
Naked he lies where youth were better lying --
sweet-flow'rd youth, that nothing misbecomes.
Grown men regard the young, women desire them --
fair in life, in noble death still fair.
Be steadfast then, be strong and firmly rooted,
grip the ground astride, press teeth to lip.





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