The Poetical Works of Andrew Lang Edited by Mrs. Lang |
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On the Death of Lord Tennyson
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 | The Poetical Works of Andrew Lang |  |
31
On the Death of Lord Tennyson
Silence! ‘The best’ (he said) ‘are silent now,That younger bearer of the laurel bough,
Who with his Thyrsis, kindred souls divine,
Harps only for Sicilian Proserpine:
For Arnold died, and Browning died, and he
The oldest, wisest, greatest of the three—
Dies, and what voice shall dirge for him to-day?
For the Muse went with him the darkling way,
And left us mute! . . . Peace! who shall rhyme or rave?
The violet blooms not on the new-made grave,
And not in this first blankness of regret
Are eyes of men who mourn their Master wet.
New grief is dumb: himself through many a year
Withheld the meed of his melodious tear
While Hallam slept. But no! the moment flies!
And rapid rhymers, when the Poet dies,
Wail punctual, and prompt, and unafraid,
In copious instant ditties ready made.
Oh, peace! Ye do but make our loss more deep,
Who wail above his unawaking sleep.
| The Poetical Works of Andrew Lang | |