(Written in 1887) Yet a few years and thou, immortal bard, Who from thy island home sing'st to the world, Great Englishman, thou wilt have passed away To other life, to other world, and we Be left without the music of thy voice. Since Milton have we ne'er beheld thy peer. Yet more like art thou to that son of Rome, Divine Virgilius, whom since boyhood's day Loved have I as the king of epic song. Farewell, great Alfred! Though thy mortal face I ne'er have seen, yet have I heard thy voice, Immortal, singing in this world of Time! |