Shak.
Far liefer by his dear hand had I die.
Tennyson.
The comparative liefer with had or would, and followed by the
infinitive, either with or without the sign to, signifies prefer,
choose as preferable, would or had rather. In the 16th century rather
was substituted for liefer in such constructions in literary English,
and has continued to be generally so used. See Had as lief, Had rather,
etc. , under Had.