| Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922. | | | | Vale! | | By Roden Berkeley Wriothesley Noel (1834–1894) |
| | | O TENDER dove, sweet circling in the blue, | |
| Whom now a delicate cloud receives from view, | |
| A cool, soft, delicate cloud, we name dim Death! | |
| O pure white lamb-lily, inhaling breath | |
| From spiritual ether among bowers | 5 |
| Of evergreen in the ever-living flowers | |
| Yonder aloft upon the airy height, | |
| Mine eyes may scarce arrive at thy still light! | |
| Wandering ever higher, O, farewell! | |
| Wilt thou the dear God tell | 10 |
| We loved thee well, | |
| While He would lend thee? Why may we not follow? | |
| Do thou remember us in our dim hollow! | |
| Farewell, love! O, farewell, farewell, farewell! | |
| We wave to thee, as when of old | 15 |
| Thou waved, and we waved, heart of gold! | |
| Parting for a little while? | |
| And is all parting only for a while? | |
| O faint perfume from realms beyond the sky! | |
| Waft of a low celestial melody! | 20 |
| O pure live water from our earthly well, | |
| Whom Love changed to a heavenly oenomel, | |
| The while he kiss’d the bowl with longing lip, | |
| And drew the soul therein to fellowship! | |
| Shimmer of white wings, ere ye vanish! | 25 |
| Glimmer of white robes, are ye banish, | |
| With your full glory, mortal eyes | |
| From paradise! | |
| So far, so far, | |
| Little star! | 30 |
| Unless thine own dear happiness it mar, | |
| Remember us in our low dell, | |
| Who love thee well! | |
| Farewell! | | | | |
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