Classic Poem

Yet a few years and thou, immortal bard,
Who from thy island home sing'st to the world,
Great Englishman, thou wilt have passed away
To other life, to other world, and we
Be left without the music of thy voice.
Since Milton have we ne'er beheld thy peer
Yet more like art thou to that son of Rome,
Divine Virgilius, whom since boyhood's day
Loved have I as the king of epic song.
Farewell, great Alfred! Though thy mortal face
I ne'er have seen, yet have I heard thy voice,
Immortal, singing in this world of Time!