Thomas Hardy - The Selfsame Song lyrics

A bird bills the selfsame song, With never a fault in its flow, That we listened to here those long   Long years ago. A pleasing marvel is how A strain of such rapturous rote Should have gone on thus till now   Unchanged in a note! - But it's not the selfsame bird. - No: perished to dust is he . . . As also are those who heard   That song with me.