Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
England: Vols. I–IV. 1876–79.
The Ivy of Kenilworth
By Felicia Hemans (17931835)H
Waving where all else hath died,
In the place of regal mirth,
Now the silent Kenilworth?
There a solemn robe it weaves;
And a voice is in each fold,
Like an oracle’s of old.
Shone its berries darkly bright?
Yes! the whisperer seemed to say,
“All things, all things pass away.
Banners and proud shields among,
And the blood-red wine flowed free,
And the fire shot sparks of glee.
Queenly steps have come and gone,
Gorgeous masques have glided by,
Unto rolling harmony.
Light hath pierced the forest bowers,
Lake and pool and fount have been
Kindled by their midnight sheen.
Where the lordly minstrelsy?
Where the tourney’s ringing spear?—
I am sole and silent here!
Through my hall no wine foams round;
By my gates hath ceased the lay;
All things, all things pass away!”
Ivy! and its tale is true;
All is passing, or hath passed,—
Thou thyself must perish last!
“Surely one thing shall abide;
Midst the wreck of ages, one,—
Heaven’s eternal Word alone!”