Last Poems (Housman)/As I gird on for fighting

by Alfred Edward Housman

II

As I gird on for fighting
 My sword upon my thigh,
I think on old ill fortunes
 Of better men than I.

Think I, the round world over,
 What golden lads are low
With hurts not mine to mourn for
 And shames I shall not know.

What evil luck soever
 For me remains in store,
'Tis sure much finer fellows
 Have fared much worse before.

So here are things to think on
 That ought to make me brave,
As I strap on for fighting
 My sword that will not save.