I think it is safe to say that "Die on my shield" is a reference to the Spartan oath which their wives said as they left for war, to either come home with your shield or on it. The implication being that a warrior in retreat would shed off as much gear as possible to make the flight faster and the shield was the first thing to go. So the women were really saying, "victory or death."
By extension, I think that he is saying that he will hold his ground but will eventually fall in "love's war".
I think it is safe to say that "Die on my shield" is a reference to the Spartan oath which their wives said as they left for war, to either come home with your shield or on it. The implication being that a warrior in retreat would shed off as much gear as possible to make the flight faster and the shield was the first thing to go. So the women were really saying, "victory or death."
By extension, I think that he is saying that he will hold his ground but will eventually fall in "love's war".