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Home  »  The World’s Best Poetry  »  “How sleep the brave”

Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.

IV. Peace

“How sleep the brave”

William Collins (1721–1759)

HOW sleep the brave who sink to rest

By all their country’s wishes blest!

When Spring, with dewy fingers cold,

Returns to deck their hallowed mold,

She there shall dress a sweeter sod

Than Fancy’s feet have ever trod.

By fairy hands their knell is rung

By forms unseen their dirge is sung;

There Honor comes, a pilgrim gray,

To bless the turf that wraps their clay;

And Freedom shall awhile repair,

To dwell a weeping hermit there!