ALFRED TENNYSON (3)

                "Why should we weep for those who die"

Why should we weep for those who die?
  They fall -their dust returns to dust;
Their souls shall live eternally
  Within the mansions of the just.

They die to live; they sink to rise,
   They leave this wretched mortal shore;
But brighter suns and bluer skies
   Shall smile on them for evermore.

Why sould we sorrow for the dead?
   Our life on earth is but a span;
They tread the path that all must tread,
   They die the common death of man.

The noblest songster of the gale
   Must cease, when Winter's frowns appear;
The reddest rose is wan and pale,
   When Autumn tints the changing year.

The fairest flower on earth must fade,
   The brightest hopes on earth must die;
Why should we mourn that man was made
   To droop on earth, but dwell on high?

The soul, th' eternal soul, must reign
   In worlds devoid of pain or strife;
Then why should mortal man complain
   Of death, which leads to happier life?

                     THE BALLAD OF ORIANA

My heart is wasted with my voe,
                   Oriana.
There is no rest for me below,
                    Oriana.
When the long dun wolds are ribb'd with snow,
And loud the Norland whirlwinds blow,
                         Oriana,
Alone I wander to and fro,
                           Oriana.

In the yew -wood black as night,
                     Oriana,
Ere I rode into the fight,
                    Oriana
While blissful tears blinded my sight
By star -shine and by moonlight,
                    Oriana,
I to thee my troth did plight,
                   Oriana.

She stood upon the castle wall,
                   Oriana;
She watch 'd my crest among them all
                   Oriana;
She saw me fight, she heard me call,
When forth there stept a foeman tall,
                Oriana
Atween me and the castle wall,
            Oriana.

O narrow, narrow was the space,
               Oriana!
Loud, loud rung out the bugle's brays,
                 Oriana.
O, deathful stabs were dealt apace,
The battle deepen'd in its place,
                  Oriana,
But I was down upon my face,
                  Oriana.

They should have stabb'd me where I lay,
                     Oriana!
How could I rise and come away,
                     Oriana?
How could I look upon the day?
They should have stabb'me where I lay,
                       Oriana.
They should have trod me into clay,
                      Oriana.

O breaking heart that will not break,
                       Oriana!
O pale, pale face so sweet and meek,
                        Oriana!
Thou smilest, but thou dost not speak,
And then the tears run down my cheek,
                       Oriana.
What wantest thou? whom dost thou seek,
                       Oriana?

I cry aloud; none hear my cries,
                      Oriana.
Thou comest atween me and the skies,
                     Oriana.
I feel the tears of blood arise
Up from my heart unto my eyes,
                      Oriana.
Within thy heart my arrow lies,
                       Oriana.

O cursed hand! O cursed blow!
                  Oriana!
O Happy thou that liest low,
                   Oriana!
All night the silence seems to flow
Beside me in my utter woe,
                     Oriana.
A weary, weary way I go,
                       Oriana!

When Norland winds pipe down the sea,
                   Oriana,
I walk, I dare not think of thee,
                     Oriana.
Thou liest beneath the greenwood tree,
I dare not die and come to thee,
                     Oriana.
I hear the roaring of the sea,
                     Oriana.


              COME NOT WHEN I AM DEAD

Come not, when I am dead,
To drop thy foolish tears upon my grave,
To trample round my fallen head,
And vex the unhappy dust thou wouldst not save.
There let the wind sweep and the plover cry;
But thou, go by.

Child, if it were thine error or thy crime
I care no longer, being all unblest;
Wed whom thou wilt, but I am sick of Time,
And I desire to rest.
Pass on, weak heart, and leave to where I lie;
Go by, go by.