| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
| |
| 1064. Tennyson |
| | | By Florence Earle Coates |
| |
| |
| HOW beautiful to live as thou didst live! | |
| How beautiful to die as thou didst die,— | |
| In moonlight of the night, without a sigh, | |
| At rest in all the best that love could give! | |
| |
| How excellent to bear into old age | 5 |
| The poet’s ardor and the heart of youth,— | |
| To keep to the last sleep the vow of truth, | |
| And leave to lands that grieve a glowing page! | |
| |
| How glorious to feel the spirit’s power | |
| Unbroken by the near approach of death, | 10 |
| To breathe blest prophecies with failing breath, | |
| Soul-bound to beauty in that latest hour! | |
| |
| How sweet to greet, in final kinship owned, | |
| The master-spirit to thy dreams so dear,— | |
| At last from his immortal lips to hear | 15 |
| The dirge for Imogen, and thee, intoned! | |
| |
| How beautiful to live as thou didst live! | |
| How beautiful to die as thou didst die,— | |
| In moonlight of the night, without a sigh, | |
| At rest in all the best that love could give! | 20 |
| |
|
|
|
