The times., 1897-07-11

Saying, ,Beholdl You are soyereias lady
now
OF this great land
Silent she gazed, as one who doth not know
The meaning of message. When she
broke
The iusil of awe around her, twas as
though
Her SOUL that spoke.
with this dread summons, since It's
Heavens decree,
/ would not palter, even IL | could;
But, being a woman only, can be
Not great, but good
TX.
II cannot don the breastplate an d the helm,
To MY weak waist the sword l cannot
gird, :;
Nor in the discords that distract realm
Be seen or heard.
"But In my peoples wisdom viii / share,
And in their valor play helpful part,
Lending them still in all they do or dare,
My woman's heart.
XII.
And haplyit may be that, by Gods grace,
Andunarmed Love sinvulne IA ble might,
1 may, though woman, lead a manly race
To higher height;
XII
"If wise win curb disorderly desire,
The Present hold the parent Pastin awe,
Religion hallowing with it's sacred fire
Freedom and Law
XIII
'Never he broken; long as / shall reign,
The solemn covenant twiXt them ana me,
To keep this Kingdom, Inoated by the main.
Loyal yet free.
Thus with grave utterance and majestic
inein,
Size with her eighteen summers filled the
throne
Where Alfred safe; girl, withal Queen,
A,oft, alone!
But Love that hath the power to force
apart
The bolts, and balk the sentinels Of Kings,
Cane o'er the sea, and in her April heart
Folded his wings
XVI
Thencefouh more dear than diadem she
owned
If not her scepter-since, withal, enthroned
BY Time, the just
XVII
Scorner of wrong ana lover OF the right,
Compounded all of nobleness he seemed,
And vas, indeed, the perfect, gentle knight
The poet dreamed
XVIII
So when the storm OF wrath arose that
drave
Scared rulers from their realms, her
throne, deep laid
IN liberty ana trust, calm shelter gave
To Kings disriayed.
XIX,
And stronger grew the bond of love and
grace
BetwiXJ her and her people, while that she
Reigned the glad mother o ( royal race,
Rulers to be.
But Death that dcepens love in darkenine
life
Turned to paIl the purple oil her throne.
Then, more than once the maid the wild
owed wife
Reigned all alonel
Leave me awhile to linger with the dead,''
Weeping, she sued. But doubt no t that
still
Am nuptialed to my people, andhave wed
Their deathless viii.
XXI.
| Their thoughts shall be my thoughts,
their aim my aim.
Their free-lent loyalty my right divine;
Mine VIII make their triumphs, mine their
fame,
Their SORROWS mine.
"Aud will be the bond to link them all
| In patriot purpose till my days be done,
| So that, in mind and might. whate 'er befall,
They still keep One
XXIV.
| Then to the winds yet wider was unfured
TIE Flag that tyrants never could enslavc
! TIL its strong wisdom governed half the
| world.
| And all the wavel
ky.
| And, paroplied alike for War or Peace,
| victoria's England furoweth still the
foam
! Tcharvest Empire, wiser than was Greece
| Wider than Romel
| XVI
| Therefore with glowing hearts and proud,
glad tears,
The children of her island realm today
| Recall her sixty venerable years
| Oh ylrtuous sway
AXYII.
| Now, too, from where st. Lawrence winds
adown
'Twixt forests relled and plains that feel
| the plough,
| And GanGes Jewels the imperial crown
| That girds her brow.
| AXSIII.
From Afric's cape, where loyal watchdogs
/ bark,
And Britain's sceptre ne'er shall be
| withdrawn,
And that young continent that greets th,
| DARK;
Wnen we the dawn;
| AXlA.
From steeI-capped promontories stern ant
| strong,
And lone eyes mounting guard upon the
| main.
Hither her subjects wend to hail her lon1
Respiendent reign.
AAA.
And ever when mid-June's musk-roses
| blow,
Our race Will celebrate victoria's name
And even Engiand's greatness gain I
From her pure lame.