In the Garden at Swainston

Alfred Tennyson


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.


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