Old Soldier's sentiment, Op. 32

The life that a woman's love did give to me,
They say is the life she came woe to see,
That a life's search of ill-begotten wealth,
Better spent was than mine, in long and steady health.
And also, that for a soldier to live long's a sin,
That to lie down early is the proper path of my kin,
That I should follow, and that none would mourn,
That both my virtue and vice have gone down to scorn.
Such talk! Can man listen to it but with grizzled glee,
As for none would he end it, as for none did it begin;
For to talk is to do no injury, to speak so is to whine;
When I hear such talk, I grin long and drink my wine.