John Tenniel.
BORN 1820.
DIED FEBRUARY 25TH, 1914.
Now he whose gallant heart so lightly bore
So long the burden of the years' increase
Passes at length toward the silent shore,
From peace to deeper peace.
And we, his honoured comrades, by whose side
His haunting spirit keeps its ancient spell,
We bring our tribute, woven of love and pride,
And say a last farewell.
Yet not farewell; because eternal youth
Still crowns the craftsmanship where hand and eye
Saw and interpreted the soul of Truth,
Letting the rest go by.
Thus for his pictured pageant, gay or grave,
He seized and fixed the moving hour's event,
Maker of history by the life he gave
To fact with fancy blent.
So lives the Artist in the work he wrought;
Yet Nature dowered the Man with gifts more dear--
A chivalrous true knight in deed and thought,
Without reproach or fear.