How Shall I Die?

How shall I die?
Shall I lay me down upon a rosed couch-
Sipping cool waters, and languorously die?
Shall I do some mighty deed!
Split ope my throat to sing beyond my brothers?
Plunge my blade within a bath of blood
To write my name in scarlet
On the script of time? How shall I die?
Shall I meet Death, and embrace her while sleeping,
Believing her my love, never knowing,
That the hour for the Great Encounter hath come?
How shall I die?
A hero, leaving Earth to shout my plaudits?
Or shall I know the morning,
That bringeth forth my bride Death
In her white robes, smiling,
And pointing not unto some darksome way,
But unto my Kingdom?
Shall I then kiss my blade and follow her-
New days to conquer?-God grant it!