Possible Clues:

• '___ better to have loved and lost ...'
• 'Whether ___ nobler...'
• Frank McCourt title
• "___ better to have loved and lost ..."
• ''My country'' follower
• It's poetic
• ''___ the season . . .''
• "__ a pity"
• "'___ the season to be jolly"
• 'My country, ___ of thee'