In the Old Churchyard at Fredericksburg

In the old churchyard at Fredericksburg A gravestone stands to-day, Marking the place where a grave has been, Though many and many a year has it seen Since its tenant mouldered away. And that quaintly carved old stone Tells its simple tale to all:— “Here lies a bearer of the pall At the funeral of Shakespeare.” There in the churchyard at Fredericksburg I wandered all alone, Thinking sadly on empty fame, How the great dead are but a name,— To few are they really known. Then upon this battered stone My listless eye did fall, Where lay the bearer of the pall At the funeral of Shakespeare. Then in the churchyard at Fredericksburg It seemed as though the air Were peopled with phantoms that swept by, Flitting along before my eye, So sad, so sweet, so fair; Hovering about this stone, By some strange spirit’s call, Where lay a bearer of the pall At the funeral of Shakespeare. For in the churchyard at Fredericksburg Juliet seemed to love, Hamlet mused, and the old Lear fell, Beatrice laughed, and Ariel Gleamed through the skies above, As here, beneath this stone, Lay in his narrow hall He who before had borne the pall At the funeral of Shakespeare. And I left the old churchyard at Fredericksburg; Still did the tall grass wave, With a strange and beautiful grace, Over the sad and lonely place, Where hidden lay the grave; And still did the quaint old stone Tell its wonderful tale to all:— “Here lies a bearer of the pall At the funeral of Shakespeare.”