Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892)

NIGHTINGALES warbled without,

Within was weeping for thee:

Shadows of three dead men

Walk’d in the walks with me:

Shadows of three dead men, and thou wast one of the three.

Nightingales sang in his woods:

The Master was far away:

Nightingales warbled and sang

Of a passion that lasts but a day;

Still in the house in his coffin the Prince of courtesy lay.

Two dead men have I known

In courtesy like to thee:

Two dead men have I loved

With a love that ever will be:

Three dead men have I loved, and thou art last of the three.