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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  458. How sleep the Brave

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

William Collins. 1721–1759

458. How sleep the Brave

HOW sleep the brave, who sink to rest 
By all their country’s wishes blest! 
When Spring, with dewy fingers cold, 
Returns to deck their hallow’d mould, 
She there shall dress a sweeter sod         5
Than Fancy’s feet have ever trod. 
 
By fairy hands their knell is rung; 
By forms unseen their dirge is sung; 
There Honour comes, a pilgrim grey, 
To bless the turf that wraps their clay;  10
And Freedom shall awhile repair 
To dwell, a weeping hermit, there!