1.
Thou soft-flowing Avon! by thy silver stream
Of things more than mortal sweet Shakespeare would dream,
‖: Would dream, :‖ sweet Shakespeare would dream;
‖: The fairies by moonlight dance round his green bed,
For hallowed the turf is that pillowed his head. :‖
2.
The love-stricken maiden, the soft-sighing swain,
Here rove without danger and sigh without pain,
‖: Without pain, :‖ and sigh without pain;
‖: The sweet bud of beauty, no blight shall here dread,
For hallowed the turf is that pillowed his head. :‖
3.
Here youth shall be famed for their love and their truth,
And cheerful old age feel the spirit of youth,
‖: Of youth, :‖ the spirit of youth;
‖: For the raptures of fancy here poets shall tread,
For hallowed the turf is that pillowed his head. :‖
4.
Flow on, silver Avon! in song ever flow,
Be the swans on thy bosom still whiter than snow,
‖: Than snow, :‖ still whiter than snow;
‖: Ever full be thy stream, like his fame may it spread,
And the turf ever hallowed that pillowed his head. :‖