Edward Cracroft Lefroy (1855–1891)

I AM the flute of Daphnis. On this wall

He nail’d his tribute to the great god Pan,

What time he grew from boyhood, shapely, tall,

And felt the first deep ardours of a man.

Through adult veins more swift the song-tide ran,—

A vernal stream whose swollen torrents call

For instant ease in utterance. Then began

That course of triumph reverenced by all.

Him the gods loved, and more than other men

Blessed with the flower of beauty, and endow’d

His soul of music with the strength of ten.

Now on a festal day I see the crowd

Look fondly at my resting-place, and when

I think whose lips have press’d me, I am proud.