A Paean
How
shall
the
burial
rite
be
read?
The
solemn
song
be
sung
?
The
requiem
for
the
loveliest
dead,
That
ever
died
so
young?
II.
Her
friends
are
gazing
on
her,
And
on
her
gaudy
bier,
And
weep
!
-
oh!
to
dishonor
Dead
beauty
with
a
tear!
III.
They
loved
her
for
her
wealth
-
And
they
hated
her
for
her
pride
-
But
she
grew
in
feeble
health,
And
they
love
her
-
that
she
died.
IV.
They
tell
me
(while
they
speak
Of
her
"costly
broider'd
pall")
That
my
voice
is
growing
weak
-
That
I
should
not
sing
at
all
-
V.
Or
that
my
tone
should
be
Tun'd
to
such
solemn
song
So
mournfully
-
so
mournfully,
That
the
dead
may
feel
no
wrong.
VI.
But
she
is
gone
above,
With
young
Hope
at
her
side,
And
I
am
drunk
with
love
Of
the
dead,
who
is
my
bride.
-
VII.
Of
the
dead
-
dead
who
lies
All
perfum'd
there,
With
the
death
upon
her
eyes,
And
the
life
upon
her
hair.
VIII.
Thus
on
the
coffin
loud
and
long
I
strike
-
the
murmur
sent
Through
the
grey
chambers
to
my
song,
Shall
be
the
accompaniment.
IX.
Thou
died'st
in
thy
life's
June
-
But
thou
did'st
not
die
too
fair:
Thou
did'st
not
die
too
soon,
Nor
with
too
calm
an
air.
X.
From
more
than
fiends
on
earth,
Thy
life
and
love
are
riven,
To
join
the
untainted
mirth
Of
more
than
thrones
in
heaven
-
XII.
Therefore,
to
thee
this
night
I
will
no
requiem
raise,
But
waft
thee
on
thy
flight,
With
a
Pæan
of
old
days.
