The Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti Edited with Preface and Notes by William M. Rossetti: Revised and Enlarged Edition |
 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
|
|
 |
|
| II. |
|
 | The Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti |  |
398
XVIII
Sonnet
He argues his case with Death
Gramercy, Death, as you've my love to win,Just be impartial in your next assault;
And that you may not find yourself in fault,
Whate'er you do, be quick now and begin.
As oft may I be pounded flat and thin
As in Grosseto there are grains of salt,
If now to kill us both you be not call'd,—
Both me and him who sticks so in his skin.
Or better still, look here; for if I'm slain
Alone,—his wealth, it's true, I'll never have,
Yet death is life to one who lives in pain;
But if you only kill Saldagno's knave,
I'm left in Siena (don't you see your gain?)
Like a rich man who's made a galley-slave.
| The Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti | |