DEDICATION THESE to His Memory-since he held them dear, I dedicate, I consecrate with tears- And indeed He seems to me Scarce other than my king's ideal knight, 'Who reverenced his conscience as his king; Whose glory was, redressing human wrong; Who spake no slander, no, nor listen'd to it; Who loved one only and who clave to her— Her-over all whose realms to their last isle, Commingled with the gloom of imminent war, The shadow of His loss drew like eclipse, Darkening the world. gone: We have lost him: he is We know him now: all narrow jealousies Not swaying to this faction or to that ; In that fierce light which beats upon a throne, Break not, O woman's-heart, but still endure; Break not, for thou art Royal, but endure, Remembering all the beauty of that star Which shone so close beside Thee that ye made One light together, but has past and leaves The Crown a lonely splendour. |