Sailing to Byzantium

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Sailing to Byzantium

by William Butler Yeats

Original Source

Sailing to Byzantium
William Butler Yeats

Witness List

  • Witness base: The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats edited by Richard Finneran.
  • Witness a1r: pencil draft on two-holed ruled paper with blue lines
  • Witness b1r: typescript on paper type B, revised in ink and pencil
  • Witness b2r: typescript on paper type B, revised in ink and pencil #2
  • Witness c1r: ink draft on paper type A
  • Witness dp2: page proofs from gathering b of October Blast (Dublin: Cuala Press, 1927)

Electronic Edition Information:

Responsibility Statement:
  • Text encoding by Sean McAneny and Kelly Parrett
  • Criticism by Gaston Touafek and Dan Mariani
Publication Details:

Published by English 425: Enterprises: Editing Yeats.

This poem and its variants are available to ENGL 425 Enterprises: Editing Yeats

X (Close panel)Version base: The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats edited by Richard Finneran.
1
That is no country for old men. The young
Now that den has come I will speak out of those
Here all is young; the chapel walls display
Here all is young; the chapel walls display
That is no country for old men -- The young
That is no country for old men. The young
2
In one another's arms, birds in the trees,
Loves have I had in play should could I have loved I
An infant sleeping on His Mother's knees
My GodAn infant sleeping on;
That travel singing of their loves, the trees
In one another's arms, birds in the trees --,
3
-- Those dying generations -- at their song,
I will now
Weary with toil Teig sleeps till break of day
Teig & his dogs leap up at the break of day
Clad in such foliage that it seems a song
Those dying generations -- at their song,
4
The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,
I will go now
And bodies were wearied out with the night s gallantries
And drowsy withThat other drowsy with night s gallantries
The shadow of the birds upon the seas
The salmon falls, the mackerel crowded seas
5
Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long
Loves have had in play, in our wil
Under the hills as in our father's day
Has snored thedrowsy morningmorning s dreary light away
The herring in the seas,
Fish flesh or fowl, commend all summer long
6
Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.
That my soul loved -- and I love of my body& her star is in natures place
I have toiled & loved until I slept like these:
Being young I toiled the nights inin the days slept like these
The fish in shoals,
Whatever is begotten born and dies.
7
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
Ashethat I loved in my first youth,
A glistening labyrinth of leaves a snail
A Lost in theglistening labyrinththata snail of leaves
The leapingfish,the fields all summer long but no
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
8
Monuments of unageing intellect.
NowFor many loves have I take off my clothes
Scrawls upon the mirror of the soul.
Scrawls uponWriteson the tarnishedmirror of the soul
Praise what with a bright ^ and no great monument
Monuments of unaging intellect.
9
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
for some I threw them off in haste, for some slowly & indifferent
I therefore travel towards Byzantium
But now I travel to Byzantium
Praise, but no great monument
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
10
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
& laid on my bed, that I might be
Among these sun-browned pleasant mariners
With many a dark skinned pleasant mariners
The crowding fish, commend all summer long
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
11
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing,
but now I will off my body
Another dozen days and we shall come
Another dozen days and I shall come
Deciding Plenty but no monument
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
12
For every tatter in its mortal dress
& show I live on love, what no one here
Under the jetty and the marble stair
Commends the never aging intellect
For every tatter in its mortal dress
13
Nor is there singing school but studying
has ever, that which is my self alone
But now these pleasant dark skinned mariners
With many a pleasant dark-skinned mariner
The salmon rivers, mackerel crowded seas
Nor is there no singing school but studying
14
Monuments of its own magnificence;
has ever , that which is my self alone
Carry me towards that great Byzantium
Carries me towards that great Byzantium
Fish flesh & fowl, all spring all summer long
Monuments of its own magnificence
15
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
Here to I shall do what one has ever in,
Where all is ancient, singing at the oars
What commemorate what is begot and dies
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
16
To the holy city of Byzantium.
That which he is in & now one is
That I may look in the great churches dome
But praise what is begotten, born and dies
To the holy city of Byzantium.
17
O sages standing in God's holy fire
O but we shall be enfolded in our arms
On gold-embedded saints and emperors
And no man raises up a monument
O sages standing in God's holy fire
18
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
& how should we ever grow weary
After the mirroring waters and the foam
To the mans the unbegotten intellect.
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
19
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
That they might be enfold in that for which they
Where the dark drowsy fins a moment rise
And man has made no mighty monument
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
20
And be the singing-masters of my soul.
had longed
Of fish that carry souls to paradise.
To praise the unbegotten intellect
And be the singing masters of my soul
21
Consume my heart away; sick with desire,
Weary with toil Teig sleeps till break of day
Weary with to toil Teigh sleeps till break of day toiled & loved
Consume my heart away ! sick with desire
22
And fastened to a dying animal
That others wearied with night s gallantries
I have slept ^ slept my night & days like these
And fastened to this dying animal
23
It knows not what it is; and gather me
Sleeps the morning & the noon away
And after to unwinking wisdom s home
It knows not what it is; and gather me
24
Into the artifice of eternity.
The marvel of the world & gardens where
Into the artifice of eternity.
25
Once out of nature I shall never take
This ageing body shall be no defect
Once out of nature I shall never take
26
My bodily form from any natural thing,
In the In this change of country intellect
My bodily form from any natural thing
27
But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make
This ageing body shall be no defect
But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make
28
Of hammered gold and gold enamelling
Men choose companions for their
Of hammered gold and gold enamelling
29
To keep a drowsy Emperor awake;
In the discourse of joyous intellect
To keep a drowsy emperor awake;
30
Or set upon a golden bough to sing
This ageing body shall be no defect
Or set upon a gold bough to sing
31
To lords and ladies of Byzantium
To lords and ladies of Byzantium
32
Of what is past, or passing, or to come.
Of what is past or passing or to come.
X (Close panel)Version a1r: pencil draft on two-holed ruled paper with blue lines
1
That is no country for old men. The young
Now that den has come I will speak out of those
Here all is young; the chapel walls display
Here all is young; the chapel walls display
That is no country for old men -- The young
That is no country for old men. The young
2
In one another's arms, birds in the trees,
Loves have I had in play should could I have loved I
An infant sleeping on His Mother's knees
My GodAn infant sleeping on;
That travel singing of their loves, the trees
In one another's arms, birds in the trees --,
3
-- Those dying generations -- at their song,
I will now
Weary with toil Teig sleeps till break of day
Teig & his dogs leap up at the break of day
Clad in such foliage that it seems a song
Those dying generations -- at their song,
4
The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,
I will go now
And bodies were wearied out with the night s gallantries
And drowsy withThat other drowsy with night s gallantries
The shadow of the birds upon the seas
The salmon falls, the mackerel crowded seas
5
Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long
Loves have had in play, in our wil
Under the hills as in our father's day
Has snored thedrowsy morningmorning s dreary light away
The herring in the seas,
Fish flesh or fowl, commend all summer long
6
Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.
That my soul loved -- and I love of my body& her star is in natures place
I have toiled & loved until I slept like these:
Being young I toiled the nights inin the days slept like these
The fish in shoals,
Whatever is begotten born and dies.
7
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
Ashethat I loved in my first youth,
A glistening labyrinth of leaves a snail
A Lost in theglistening labyrinththata snail of leaves
The leapingfish,the fields all summer long but no
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
8
Monuments of unageing intellect.
NowFor many loves have I take off my clothes
Scrawls upon the mirror of the soul.
Scrawls uponWriteson the tarnishedmirror of the soul
Praise what with a bright ^ and no great monument
Monuments of unaging intellect.
9
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
for some I threw them off in haste, for some slowly & indifferent
I therefore travel towards Byzantium
But now I travel to Byzantium
Praise, but no great monument
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
10
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
& laid on my bed, that I might be
Among these sun-browned pleasant mariners
With many a dark skinned pleasant mariners
The crowding fish, commend all summer long
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
11
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing,
but now I will off my body
Another dozen days and we shall come
Another dozen days and I shall come
Deciding Plenty but no monument
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
12
For every tatter in its mortal dress
& show I live on love, what no one here
Under the jetty and the marble stair
Commends the never aging intellect
For every tatter in its mortal dress
13
Nor is there singing school but studying
has ever, that which is my self alone
But now these pleasant dark skinned mariners
With many a pleasant dark-skinned mariner
The salmon rivers, mackerel crowded seas
Nor is there no singing school but studying
14
Monuments of its own magnificence;
has ever , that which is my self alone
Carry me towards that great Byzantium
Carries me towards that great Byzantium
Fish flesh & fowl, all spring all summer long
Monuments of its own magnificence
15
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
Here to I shall do what one has ever in,
Where all is ancient, singing at the oars
What commemorate what is begot and dies
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
16
To the holy city of Byzantium.
That which he is in & now one is
That I may look in the great churches dome
But praise what is begotten, born and dies
To the holy city of Byzantium.
17
O sages standing in God's holy fire
O but we shall be enfolded in our arms
On gold-embedded saints and emperors
And no man raises up a monument
O sages standing in God's holy fire
18
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
& how should we ever grow weary
After the mirroring waters and the foam
To the mans the unbegotten intellect.
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
19
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
That they might be enfold in that for which they
Where the dark drowsy fins a moment rise
And man has made no mighty monument
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
20
And be the singing-masters of my soul.
had longed
Of fish that carry souls to paradise.
To praise the unbegotten intellect
And be the singing masters of my soul
X (Close panel)Version b1r: typescript on paper type B, revised in ink and pencil
1
That is no country for old men. The young
Now that den has come I will speak out of those
Here all is young; the chapel walls display
Here all is young; the chapel walls display
That is no country for old men -- The young
That is no country for old men. The young
2
In one another's arms, birds in the trees,
Loves have I had in play should could I have loved I
An infant sleeping on His Mother's knees
My GodAn infant sleeping on;
That travel singing of their loves, the trees
In one another's arms, birds in the trees --,
3
-- Those dying generations -- at their song,
I will now
Weary with toil Teig sleeps till break of day
Teig & his dogs leap up at the break of day
Clad in such foliage that it seems a song
Those dying generations -- at their song,
4
The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,
I will go now
And bodies were wearied out with the night s gallantries
And drowsy withThat other drowsy with night s gallantries
The shadow of the birds upon the seas
The salmon falls, the mackerel crowded seas
5
Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long
Loves have had in play, in our wil
Under the hills as in our father's day
Has snored thedrowsy morningmorning s dreary light away
The herring in the seas,
Fish flesh or fowl, commend all summer long
6
Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.
That my soul loved -- and I love of my body& her star is in natures place
I have toiled & loved until I slept like these:
Being young I toiled the nights inin the days slept like these
The fish in shoals,
Whatever is begotten born and dies.
7
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
Ashethat I loved in my first youth,
A glistening labyrinth of leaves a snail
A Lost in theglistening labyrinththata snail of leaves
The leapingfish,the fields all summer long but no
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
8
Monuments of unageing intellect.
NowFor many loves have I take off my clothes
Scrawls upon the mirror of the soul.
Scrawls uponWriteson the tarnishedmirror of the soul
Praise what with a bright ^ and no great monument
Monuments of unaging intellect.
9
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
for some I threw them off in haste, for some slowly & indifferent
I therefore travel towards Byzantium
But now I travel to Byzantium
Praise, but no great monument
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
10
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
& laid on my bed, that I might be
Among these sun-browned pleasant mariners
With many a dark skinned pleasant mariners
The crowding fish, commend all summer long
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
11
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing,
but now I will off my body
Another dozen days and we shall come
Another dozen days and I shall come
Deciding Plenty but no monument
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
12
For every tatter in its mortal dress
& show I live on love, what no one here
Under the jetty and the marble stair
Commends the never aging intellect
For every tatter in its mortal dress
13
Nor is there singing school but studying
has ever, that which is my self alone
But now these pleasant dark skinned mariners
With many a pleasant dark-skinned mariner
The salmon rivers, mackerel crowded seas
Nor is there no singing school but studying
14
Monuments of its own magnificence;
has ever , that which is my self alone
Carry me towards that great Byzantium
Carries me towards that great Byzantium
Fish flesh & fowl, all spring all summer long
Monuments of its own magnificence
15
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
Here to I shall do what one has ever in,
Where all is ancient, singing at the oars
What commemorate what is begot and dies
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
16
To the holy city of Byzantium.
That which he is in & now one is
That I may look in the great churches dome
But praise what is begotten, born and dies
To the holy city of Byzantium.
17
O sages standing in God's holy fire
O but we shall be enfolded in our arms
On gold-embedded saints and emperors
And no man raises up a monument
O sages standing in God's holy fire
18
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
& how should we ever grow weary
After the mirroring waters and the foam
To the mans the unbegotten intellect.
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
19
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
That they might be enfold in that for which they
Where the dark drowsy fins a moment rise
And man has made no mighty monument
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
20
And be the singing-masters of my soul.
had longed
Of fish that carry souls to paradise.
To praise the unbegotten intellect
And be the singing masters of my soul
21
Consume my heart away; sick with desire,
Weary with toil Teig sleeps till break of day
Weary with to toil Teigh sleeps till break of day toiled & loved
Consume my heart away ! sick with desire
22
And fastened to a dying animal
That others wearied with night s gallantries
I have slept ^ slept my night & days like these
And fastened to this dying animal
23
It knows not what it is; and gather me
Sleeps the morning & the noon away
And after to unwinking wisdom s home
It knows not what it is; and gather me
X (Close panel)Version b2r: typescript on paper type B, revised in ink and pencil #2
1
That is no country for old men. The young
Now that den has come I will speak out of those
Here all is young; the chapel walls display
Here all is young; the chapel walls display
That is no country for old men -- The young
That is no country for old men. The young
2
In one another's arms, birds in the trees,
Loves have I had in play should could I have loved I
An infant sleeping on His Mother's knees
My GodAn infant sleeping on;
That travel singing of their loves, the trees
In one another's arms, birds in the trees --,
3
-- Those dying generations -- at their song,
I will now
Weary with toil Teig sleeps till break of day
Teig & his dogs leap up at the break of day
Clad in such foliage that it seems a song
Those dying generations -- at their song,
4
The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,
I will go now
And bodies were wearied out with the night s gallantries
And drowsy withThat other drowsy with night s gallantries
The shadow of the birds upon the seas
The salmon falls, the mackerel crowded seas
5
Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long
Loves have had in play, in our wil
Under the hills as in our father's day
Has snored thedrowsy morningmorning s dreary light away
The herring in the seas,
Fish flesh or fowl, commend all summer long
6
Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.
That my soul loved -- and I love of my body& her star is in natures place
I have toiled & loved until I slept like these:
Being young I toiled the nights inin the days slept like these
The fish in shoals,
Whatever is begotten born and dies.
7
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
Ashethat I loved in my first youth,
A glistening labyrinth of leaves a snail
A Lost in theglistening labyrinththata snail of leaves
The leapingfish,the fields all summer long but no
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
8
Monuments of unageing intellect.
NowFor many loves have I take off my clothes
Scrawls upon the mirror of the soul.
Scrawls uponWriteson the tarnishedmirror of the soul
Praise what with a bright ^ and no great monument
Monuments of unaging intellect.
9
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
for some I threw them off in haste, for some slowly & indifferent
I therefore travel towards Byzantium
But now I travel to Byzantium
Praise, but no great monument
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
10
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
& laid on my bed, that I might be
Among these sun-browned pleasant mariners
With many a dark skinned pleasant mariners
The crowding fish, commend all summer long
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
11
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing,
but now I will off my body
Another dozen days and we shall come
Another dozen days and I shall come
Deciding Plenty but no monument
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
12
For every tatter in its mortal dress
& show I live on love, what no one here
Under the jetty and the marble stair
Commends the never aging intellect
For every tatter in its mortal dress
13
Nor is there singing school but studying
has ever, that which is my self alone
But now these pleasant dark skinned mariners
With many a pleasant dark-skinned mariner
The salmon rivers, mackerel crowded seas
Nor is there no singing school but studying
14
Monuments of its own magnificence;
has ever , that which is my self alone
Carry me towards that great Byzantium
Carries me towards that great Byzantium
Fish flesh & fowl, all spring all summer long
Monuments of its own magnificence
15
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
Here to I shall do what one has ever in,
Where all is ancient, singing at the oars
What commemorate what is begot and dies
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
16
To the holy city of Byzantium.
That which he is in & now one is
That I may look in the great churches dome
But praise what is begotten, born and dies
To the holy city of Byzantium.
17
O sages standing in God's holy fire
O but we shall be enfolded in our arms
On gold-embedded saints and emperors
And no man raises up a monument
O sages standing in God's holy fire
18
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
& how should we ever grow weary
After the mirroring waters and the foam
To the mans the unbegotten intellect.
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
19
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
That they might be enfold in that for which they
Where the dark drowsy fins a moment rise
And man has made no mighty monument
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
20
And be the singing-masters of my soul.
had longed
Of fish that carry souls to paradise.
To praise the unbegotten intellect
And be the singing masters of my soul
21
Consume my heart away; sick with desire,
Weary with toil Teig sleeps till break of day
Weary with to toil Teigh sleeps till break of day toiled & loved
Consume my heart away ! sick with desire
22
And fastened to a dying animal
That others wearied with night s gallantries
I have slept ^ slept my night & days like these
And fastened to this dying animal
23
It knows not what it is; and gather me
Sleeps the morning & the noon away
And after to unwinking wisdom s home
It knows not what it is; and gather me
24
Into the artifice of eternity.
The marvel of the world & gardens where
Into the artifice of eternity.
25
Once out of nature I shall never take
This ageing body shall be no defect
Once out of nature I shall never take
26
My bodily form from any natural thing,
In the In this change of country intellect
My bodily form from any natural thing
27
But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make
This ageing body shall be no defect
But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make
28
Of hammered gold and gold enamelling
Men choose companions for their
Of hammered gold and gold enamelling
29
To keep a drowsy Emperor awake;
In the discourse of joyous intellect
To keep a drowsy emperor awake;
30
Or set upon a golden bough to sing
This ageing body shall be no defect
Or set upon a gold bough to sing
X (Close panel)Version c1r: ink draft on paper type A
1
That is no country for old men. The young
Now that den has come I will speak out of those
Here all is young; the chapel walls display
Here all is young; the chapel walls display
That is no country for old men -- The young
That is no country for old men. The young
2
In one another's arms, birds in the trees,
Loves have I had in play should could I have loved I
An infant sleeping on His Mother's knees
My GodAn infant sleeping on;
That travel singing of their loves, the trees
In one another's arms, birds in the trees --,
3
-- Those dying generations -- at their song,
I will now
Weary with toil Teig sleeps till break of day
Teig & his dogs leap up at the break of day
Clad in such foliage that it seems a song
Those dying generations -- at their song,
4
The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,
I will go now
And bodies were wearied out with the night s gallantries
And drowsy withThat other drowsy with night s gallantries
The shadow of the birds upon the seas
The salmon falls, the mackerel crowded seas
5
Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long
Loves have had in play, in our wil
Under the hills as in our father's day
Has snored thedrowsy morningmorning s dreary light away
The herring in the seas,
Fish flesh or fowl, commend all summer long
6
Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.
That my soul loved -- and I love of my body& her star is in natures place
I have toiled & loved until I slept like these:
Being young I toiled the nights inin the days slept like these
The fish in shoals,
Whatever is begotten born and dies.
7
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
Ashethat I loved in my first youth,
A glistening labyrinth of leaves a snail
A Lost in theglistening labyrinththata snail of leaves
The leapingfish,the fields all summer long but no
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
8
Monuments of unageing intellect.
NowFor many loves have I take off my clothes
Scrawls upon the mirror of the soul.
Scrawls uponWriteson the tarnishedmirror of the soul
Praise what with a bright ^ and no great monument
Monuments of unaging intellect.
9
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
for some I threw them off in haste, for some slowly & indifferent
I therefore travel towards Byzantium
But now I travel to Byzantium
Praise, but no great monument
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
10
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
& laid on my bed, that I might be
Among these sun-browned pleasant mariners
With many a dark skinned pleasant mariners
The crowding fish, commend all summer long
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
11
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing,
but now I will off my body
Another dozen days and we shall come
Another dozen days and I shall come
Deciding Plenty but no monument
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
12
For every tatter in its mortal dress
& show I live on love, what no one here
Under the jetty and the marble stair
Commends the never aging intellect
For every tatter in its mortal dress
13
Nor is there singing school but studying
has ever, that which is my self alone
But now these pleasant dark skinned mariners
With many a pleasant dark-skinned mariner
The salmon rivers, mackerel crowded seas
Nor is there no singing school but studying
14
Monuments of its own magnificence;
has ever , that which is my self alone
Carry me towards that great Byzantium
Carries me towards that great Byzantium
Fish flesh & fowl, all spring all summer long
Monuments of its own magnificence
15
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
Here to I shall do what one has ever in,
Where all is ancient, singing at the oars
What commemorate what is begot and dies
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
16
To the holy city of Byzantium.
That which he is in & now one is
That I may look in the great churches dome
But praise what is begotten, born and dies
To the holy city of Byzantium.
17
O sages standing in God's holy fire
O but we shall be enfolded in our arms
On gold-embedded saints and emperors
And no man raises up a monument
O sages standing in God's holy fire
18
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
& how should we ever grow weary
After the mirroring waters and the foam
To the mans the unbegotten intellect.
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
19
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
That they might be enfold in that for which they
Where the dark drowsy fins a moment rise
And man has made no mighty monument
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
20
And be the singing-masters of my soul.
had longed
Of fish that carry souls to paradise.
To praise the unbegotten intellect
And be the singing masters of my soul
X (Close panel)Version dp2: page proofs from gathering b of October Blast (Dublin: Cuala Press, 1927)
1
That is no country for old men. The young
Now that den has come I will speak out of those
Here all is young; the chapel walls display
Here all is young; the chapel walls display
That is no country for old men -- The young
That is no country for old men. The young
2
In one another's arms, birds in the trees,
Loves have I had in play should could I have loved I
An infant sleeping on His Mother's knees
My GodAn infant sleeping on;
That travel singing of their loves, the trees
In one another's arms, birds in the trees --,
3
-- Those dying generations -- at their song,
I will now
Weary with toil Teig sleeps till break of day
Teig & his dogs leap up at the break of day
Clad in such foliage that it seems a song
Those dying generations -- at their song,
4
The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,
I will go now
And bodies were wearied out with the night s gallantries
And drowsy withThat other drowsy with night s gallantries
The shadow of the birds upon the seas
The salmon falls, the mackerel crowded seas
5
Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long
Loves have had in play, in our wil
Under the hills as in our father's day
Has snored thedrowsy morningmorning s dreary light away
The herring in the seas,
Fish flesh or fowl, commend all summer long
6
Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.
That my soul loved -- and I love of my body& her star is in natures place
I have toiled & loved until I slept like these:
Being young I toiled the nights inin the days slept like these
The fish in shoals,
Whatever is begotten born and dies.
7
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
Ashethat I loved in my first youth,
A glistening labyrinth of leaves a snail
A Lost in theglistening labyrinththata snail of leaves
The leapingfish,the fields all summer long but no
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
8
Monuments of unageing intellect.
NowFor many loves have I take off my clothes
Scrawls upon the mirror of the soul.
Scrawls uponWriteson the tarnishedmirror of the soul
Praise what with a bright ^ and no great monument
Monuments of unaging intellect.
9
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
for some I threw them off in haste, for some slowly & indifferent
I therefore travel towards Byzantium
But now I travel to Byzantium
Praise, but no great monument
An aged man is but a paltry thing,
10
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
& laid on my bed, that I might be
Among these sun-browned pleasant mariners
With many a dark skinned pleasant mariners
The crowding fish, commend all summer long
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
11
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing,
but now I will off my body
Another dozen days and we shall come
Another dozen days and I shall come
Deciding Plenty but no monument
Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing
12
For every tatter in its mortal dress
& show I live on love, what no one here
Under the jetty and the marble stair
Commends the never aging intellect
For every tatter in its mortal dress
13
Nor is there singing school but studying
has ever, that which is my self alone
But now these pleasant dark skinned mariners
With many a pleasant dark-skinned mariner
The salmon rivers, mackerel crowded seas
Nor is there no singing school but studying
14
Monuments of its own magnificence;
has ever , that which is my self alone
Carry me towards that great Byzantium
Carries me towards that great Byzantium
Fish flesh & fowl, all spring all summer long
Monuments of its own magnificence
15
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
Here to I shall do what one has ever in,
Where all is ancient, singing at the oars
What commemorate what is begot and dies
And therefore I have sailed the seas and come
16
To the holy city of Byzantium.
That which he is in & now one is
That I may look in the great churches dome
But praise what is begotten, born and dies
To the holy city of Byzantium.
17
O sages standing in God's holy fire
O but we shall be enfolded in our arms
On gold-embedded saints and emperors
And no man raises up a monument
O sages standing in God's holy fire
18
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
& how should we ever grow weary
After the mirroring waters and the foam
To the mans the unbegotten intellect.
As in the gold mosaic of a wall,
19
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
That they might be enfold in that for which they
Where the dark drowsy fins a moment rise
And man has made no mighty monument
Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,
20
And be the singing-masters of my soul.
had longed
Of fish that carry souls to paradise.
To praise the unbegotten intellect
And be the singing masters of my soul
21
Consume my heart away; sick with desire,
Weary with toil Teig sleeps till break of day
Weary with to toil Teigh sleeps till break of day toiled & loved
Consume my heart away ! sick with desire
22
And fastened to a dying animal
That others wearied with night s gallantries
I have slept ^ slept my night & days like these
And fastened to this dying animal
23
It knows not what it is; and gather me
Sleeps the morning & the noon away
And after to unwinking wisdom s home
It knows not what it is; and gather me
24
Into the artifice of eternity.
The marvel of the world & gardens where
Into the artifice of eternity.
25
Once out of nature I shall never take
This ageing body shall be no defect
Once out of nature I shall never take
26
My bodily form from any natural thing,
In the In this change of country intellect
My bodily form from any natural thing
27
But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make
This ageing body shall be no defect
But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make
28
Of hammered gold and gold enamelling
Men choose companions for their
Of hammered gold and gold enamelling
29
To keep a drowsy Emperor awake;
In the discourse of joyous intellect
To keep a drowsy emperor awake;
30
Or set upon a golden bough to sing
This ageing body shall be no defect
Or set upon a gold bough to sing
31
To lords and ladies of Byzantium
To lords and ladies of Byzantium
32
Of what is past, or passing, or to come.
Of what is past or passing or to come.
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