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Yeats, William Butler: The Old Stone Cross

Portre of Yeats, William Butler

The Old Stone Cross (English)

A STATESMAN is an easy man, 
He tells his lies by rote; 
A journalist makes up his lies 
And takes you by the throat; 
So stay at home' and drink your beer 
And let the neighbours' vote, 

Said the man in the golden breastplate 
Under the old stone Cross. 

Because this age and the next age 
Engender in the ditch, 
No man can know a happy man 
From any passing wretch; 
If Folly link with Elegance 
No man knows which is which, 

Said the man in the golden breastplate 
Under the old stone Cross. 

But actors lacking music 
Do most excite my spleen, 
They say it is more human 
To shuffle, grunt and groan, 
Not knowing what unearthly stuff 
Rounds a mighty scene, 

Said the man in the golden breastplate 
Under the old stone Cross.



Uploaded byRácsai Róbert
Source of the quotationhttp://www.poemhunter.com

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