Classic and Contemporary Poetry
IDYLLS OF THE KING: DEDICATION, by ALFRED TENNYSON Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: These to his memory -- since he held them dear Last Line: Till god's love set thee at his side again! Alternate Author Name(s): Tennyson, Lord Alfred; Tennyson, 1st Baron; Tennyson Of Aldworth And Farringford, Baron Variant Title(s): To The Queen;albert, Prince Consort Of England Subject(s): Albert Of Saxe-coburg-gotha (1819-1861); Victoria, Queen Of England (1819-1901); Prince Consort Of Queen Victoria | ||||||||
THESE to His Memory -- since he held them dear, Perchance as finding there unconsciously Some image of himself -- I dedicate, I dedicate, I consecrate with tears -- These Idylls. And indeed he seems to me Scarce other that 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. We have lost him; he is gone. We know him now; all narrow jealousies Are silent, and we see him as he moved, How modest, kindly, all-accomplish'd, wise, With what sublime repression of himself, And in what limits, and how tenderly; Not swaying to this faction or to that; Not making his high place the lawless perch Of wing'd ambitions, nor a vantage-ground For pleasure; but thro' all this tract of years Wearing the white flower of a blameless life, Before a thousand peering littlenesses, In that fierce light which beats upon a throne And blackens every blot; for where is he Who dares foreshadow for an only son A lovelier life, a more unstain'd, than his? Or how should England dreaming of his sons Hope more for these than some inheritance Of such a life, a heart, a mind as thine, Thou noble Father of her Kings to be, Laborious for her people and her poor -- Voice in the rich dawn of an ampler day -- Far-sighted summoner of War and Waste To fruitful strifes and rivalries of peace -- Sweet nature gilded by the gracious gleam Of letters, dear to Science, dear to Art, Dear to thy land and ours, a Prince indeed, Beyond all titles, and a household name, Hereafter, thro' all times, Albert the Good. 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 splendor. May all love, His love, unseen but felt, o'ershadow thee, The love of all thy sons encompass thee, The love of all thy daughters cherish thee, The love of all thy people comfort thee, Till God's love set thee at his side again! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A CHARACTER by ALFRED TENNYSON A DEDICATION by ALFRED TENNYSON A DREAM OF FAIR WOMEN by ALFRED TENNYSON BREAK, BREAK, BREAK by ALFRED TENNYSON CROSSING THE BAR by ALFRED TENNYSON EDWIN MORRIS; OR, THE LAKE by ALFRED TENNYSON ENGLAND AND AMERICA IN 1782 by ALFRED TENNYSON |
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