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(Died May 19, 1898)
SOME in the promise of an early prime, | |
| Ere yet the first assault is dared and won, | |
| Death takes with envious hand before their time, | |
| Leaving the task undone. | |
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| Some, ripe in manhood, at their army’s head, | 5 |
| As even now they touched the topmost tower, | |
| With shining harness on have fallen dead, | |
| In victory’s crowning hour. | |
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| But you, O veteran of a thousand fights, | |
| Whose toil had long attained its perfect end— | 10 |
| Death calls you not as one that claims his rights, | |
| But gently as a friend. | |
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| For though that matchless energy of mind | |
| Was firm to front the menace of decay, | |
| Your bodily strength on such a loss declined | 15 |
| As only Death could stay. | |
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| So then with you ’tis well, who after pain, | |
| After long pain, have reached your rest at last; | |
| But we—ah when shall England mould again | |
| This type of splendour past? | 20 |
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| Noble in triumph, noble in defeat, | |
| Leader of hopes that others held forlorn, | |
| Strong in the faith that looks afar to meet | |
| The flush of Freedom’s morn— | |
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| Could we, Her own, forget you to our shame, | 25 |
| Lands that have lived to see Her risen sun | |
| Remembering much should witness how your name | |
| And Freedom’s name are one. | |
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| But we shall not forget, nor Time erase | |
| Your record deep in English annals set: | 30 |
| What severance marred your labour’s closing days | |
| Alone we shall forget. | |
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| And now, with all your armour laid aside, | |
| Swift eloquence your sword, and, for your shield, | |
| The indomitable courage that defied | 35 |
| The fortune of the field— | |
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| As in the noontide of your high command, | |
| So in the final hour when darkness fell, | |
| Submissive still to that untiring Hand | |
| That orders all things well— | 40 |
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| We bear you to your resting-place apart | |
| Between the ranks where ancient foe and friend, | |
| Kin by a common sorrow at the heart, | |
| Silent together bend. | |
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