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Tiresias, and Other Poems/Prologue

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4605814Tiresias, and Other Poems — Prologue to General HamleyAlfred Tennyson

PROLOGUE

TO GENERAL HAMLEY.

Our birches yellowing and from eachThe light leaf falling fast,While squirrels from our fiery beechWere bearing off the mast,You came, and look’d and loved the viewLong-known and loved by me,Green Sussex fading into blueWith one gray glimpse of sea;And, gazing from this height alone,We spoke of what had been Most marvellous in the wars your ownCrimean eyes had seen;And now–like old-world inns that takeSome warrior for a signThat therewithin a guest may makeTrue cheer with honest wine–Because you heard the lines I readNor utter'd word of blame,I dare without your leave to headThese rhymings with your name,Who know you but as one of thoseI fain would meet again,Yet know you, as your England knowsThat you and all your menWere soldiers to her heart's desire,When, in the vanish'd year,You saw the league-long rampart-fire Flare from Tel-el-KebirThro’ darkness, and the foe was driven,And Wolseley overthrewArâbi, and the stars in heavenPaled, and the glory grew.