| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 297. Rinaldo |
| | | By Henry Peterson |
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| BRING me a cup of good red wine | |
| To drink before I die; | |
| Though earthly joys I must resign, | |
| I ’ll breathe no earthly sigh. | |
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| I ’ve lived a bold and robber life, | 5 |
| I ’ve had on earth my way, | |
| For with the gun or with the knife, | |
| I made mankind obey. | |
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| My mother’s name, my father’s race, | |
| Though he was false, she true, | 10 |
| It matters not—they sleep in peace. | |
| What more can I or you? | |
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| They sleep in peace, though swords flashed wild | |
| Around my infant head, | |
| And I was left an orphan child, | 15 |
| An outcast’s path to tread. | |
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| Men are but grapes upon the vine; | |
| My vine was planted where | |
| Nor hand did tend, nor warm sun shine, | |
| And mildew filled the air. | 20 |
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| I was a robber brave and bold. | |
| I did not, in the mart, | |
| Lie, cheat, and steal with purpose cold. | |
| Mine was too frank a heart. | |
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| All men are robbers,—all who win, | 25 |
| And get more than their due; | |
| Though solemn phrases veil the sin, | |
| The thief’s eye glances through. | |
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| The world denied me gold and land, | |
| And love which all men crave; | 30 |
| I took the first with strong right hand, | |
| The last I left a slave. | |
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| And though the tiger ’s caged at length,— | |
| Who made him such God knows,— | |
| He can but fail who measures strength | 35 |
| Against a world of foes. | |
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| Then bring a cup of rich red wine | |
| Before the bell tolls three, | |
| For better men than I and mine | |
| Have died upon the tree. | 40 |
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