Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/994

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HON. RODEN NOEL

He would have faded,
Faded away,
He, the young monarch, whom
All would obey,
Fairer than day ;
Alien to springtime,
Joyless and gray,
He would have faded,
Faded away,
Moving a mockery,
Scorn' d of the day !
Now I have taken him
All in his prime,
Saved from slow poisoning
Pitiless Time,
Fill'd with his happiness,
One with the prime,
Saved from the cruel
Dishonour of Time.
Laid him, my beautiful,
Laid him to rest,
Loving, adorable,
Softly to rest,
Here in my crystalline,
Here in my breast!


804.
The Old

THEY are waiting on the shore
  For the bark to take them home
They will toil and grieve no more;
  The hour for release hath come.