The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-09
THE LAUREATE'S LAUREL.
Alfred Austin on Victoria's Death.

Nay "a, 1s19---Jan -, 1901.
Dead! And the world feels widowcd!
Can IL be
That She who scarce but yesterday upheld
The dome Of Empire, 50 the twain seemed one,
Whose goodness shone and radiated round
The circle Of her still expanding Rule,
Whose ScCr.rc was selfsacrhce whose Throne
Only lotticr height from which TO scan
The purpose Of her People, their desires,
Thoughts, hopes, fears, needs, Joys, sorross, sad
ncsscs,
Their strength In veal, their comforter in woe,-
That this her mortal habitation should
Lie cold and tenantlc>s! Alas Alas!
Too often Life has TO be taught by Death
Tho meaning and the pricelessness Of Love,
Not understood till lost. But She-but She,
Wa, loved as Monarch neer was loved before,
From girhood unto womanhood and grew
Fresh as the leaf. and fragrant as the flower,
In grace and comclincsS until the day
OF happy nuptal glad maternity
More closely wcddcd to hor Peoples heart
ny each fresh tic that knitted Her TO Him
Whose one sole thought was how She still might
be
Helpmate to England; England then; scarce
more,
Or bounded by the name oil British Realm,
But by some native virtue broadening out
Till, like some thousand.years, out'branchng oak,
Its mildness overshadoved half the globe
With peaceful arms and hospitable leave.
But there came 10 Her an hour,
When nor Sceptrc, Throne hor Power,
ChildrenS love nor nations gricf
Brought oblivion OF relief,
When the Consort at her side,
Worthiest mentor, wisest guide,
Was by Heavens divine decree
From her days withdrawn, and She
rs detmonod by her distress,
Yelled her widowed loneliness;
And. though longing still 20 hear
Voice SO reyerenced and dear,
All her People understood
SacrCdncss oi Widowhood.
Then when She came amongst them yet once
more
She came in Autumn radiance, Summer gone,
Leaf still on branch but fruit upon the pough,
Fruit of long years and ripe experience
\ shade OF grave bereavement on her face,
Wtlal more wise, more ptiful. tender more
To others anguish and necessities,
| More loved, more revercnced, even than before;
| Til not alone the dwcllers in Her Isle,
| But the adventurous manhood OF its loiEs
| In far.ofl seas and virgin Continents
| They Won and welded to domestic laws
| And homes well.ordcrcd household sanctitics,
| Hailed Her as Mother OF the Mother Land,
Queen, Empress, more than Empress or than
| Queen,
The Lady of the World on high cnthoned
| BY right divine oi duties we'll fulfilled,
To be the pattern TO all Queens oil Kings.
| All women, and the consciences Of men
Who look on duty mans only right,
| Nor yet alone to those empowered to b.
! The subjects OF her Sccptrc, proud to pray,
"God save our EmpressQuecu Victoria"'
Bot those, our kinsnCn ovoisea, that cling,
| With no less pride, 10 kngleSs government,
IIonorcd and loved Her, hailed her Queen o.
Queens
Peerless among all women IN the world.
And long aud late this happy season woIe,
THIS mellow, gracious Autumn Of her days,
This sweet grave Indian summer, till we grew
| 10 deem it linitleSS, and half forgot
Mortalitys decree. And now there falls
| A sudden sadness on our lives, and we
| Can only bow disconsolatc heads and weep.
And look out from our lonely hCarths and see
The homeless drifting Of the winter mist
And hear the requiem Of the winter wind
Eut from that Othcrwhere mans Faith and Hope
Aud mortal need for Immortality
Invsihly conceive, seem TO hear
4 well.remembercd voice, august and mild
Rchukirg our despondtncy, and thus
bidding US face tho Future as She faced
Anguish and loss, sorrow Of life and death
The fearful sadness at the heart Of thugs
"Dry your tears and cease TO weep,
Dead ! am not, no, asleep,
And asleep but TO your seeing,
Lifted to that land Of Being,
Lying on lic's other shore,
WakCiul now for everywhere.
Looking thence. ! sill will be-
80 that you torgct not me,
Nj that, more than, | was there,
Weighted with my Crown OF care.
Over you | still will reign,
still will comfort and sustain,
Through all welfare, through all i'll,
Nau shall be my People still.
have left you, Of nay race,
, Sons Of wisdom, wives Of grace,
Who again have offspring, reared
To revere and be rcyered,
Those on Mighty Thrones, and these
Doomed thereto when Heaven decrees
Chief amongst them all is One,
Well you know, my drstborn Son,
= Best and teuderest son 10 me,
Heir of my Authority.
Vie through all my lonelier years
Tempered with his smile my tears,
Md was, in my widowed want,
Comforter and conh'lant.
Therefore, trustiul. steadiast, brave,
Give Him what TO Me YOU gave,
Who am watching from Above.
, Reverence Loyalty and Love!
= Md these gifts lie back will give