| |
| HEARD’ST thou what the Ivy sighed, | |
| Waving where all else hath died, | |
| In the place of regal mirth, | |
| Now the silent Kenilworth? | |
| |
| With its many glistening leaves, | 5 |
| There a solemn robe it weaves; | |
| And a voice is in each fold, | |
| Like an oracle’s of old. | |
| |
| Heard’st thou, while with dews of night | |
| Shone its berries darkly bright? | 10 |
| Yes! the whisperer seemed to say, | |
| “All things, all things pass away. | |
| |
| “Where I am the harp hath rung | |
| Banners and proud shields among, | |
| And the blood-red wine flowed free, | 15 |
| And the fire shot sparks of glee. | |
| |
| “Where I am, now last and lone, | |
| Queenly steps have come and gone, | |
| Gorgeous masques have glided by, | |
| Unto rolling harmony. | 20 |
| |
| “Flung from these illumined towers, | |
| Light hath pierced the forest bowers, | |
| Lake and pool and fount have been | |
| Kindled by their midnight sheen. | |
| |
| “Where is now the feasting high? | 25 |
| Where the lordly minstrelsy? | |
| Where the tourney’s ringing spear?— | |
| I am sole and silent here! | |
| |
| “In my home no hearth is crowned, | |
| Through my hall no wine foams round; | 30 |
| By my gates hath ceased the lay; | |
| All things, all things pass away!” | |
| |
| Yes, thy warning voice I knew, | |
| Ivy! and its tale is true; | |
| All is passing, or hath passed,— | 35 |
| Thou thyself must perish last! | |
| |
| Yet my secret soul replied, | |
| “Surely one thing shall abide; | |
| Midst the wreck of ages, one,— | |
| Heaven’s eternal Word alone!” | 40 |
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