Attest their great commander's claim
With honour, honour, honour, honour to him,
Eternal honour to his name.

CROWNED AND WEDDED

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

Two of the sons of George III., George IV. and William IV., lived to succeed him on the throne, but they left no children. The next heir was Victoria, daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of George III. She was proclaimed queen in 1837, when but eighteen years of age. Victoria had been carefully educated for this high position and she keenly felt her heavy responsibility. In 1840 she was married to her cousin, Prince Albert of Coburg and Gotha.

When last before her people's face her own fair face she bent,

Within the meek projection of that shade she was

content

To erase the child-smile from her lips, which seemed as if it might

Be still kept holy from the world to childhood still in

To erase it with a solemn vow, a princely vow - to

rule;

A priestly vow-to rule by grace of God the pitiful; A very godlike vow to rule in right and righteous

ness,

And with the law and for the land!

so God the

vower bless!

The minster was alight that day, but not with fire, I

ween,

And long-drawn glitterings swept adown that mighty aislèd scene.

The priests stood stolèd in their pomp, the sworded chiefs in theirs,

And so, the collared knights, and so, the civil minis

ters,

And so, the waiting lords and dames - and little pages best

At holding trains — and legates so, from countries east and west.

So, alien princes, native peers, and high-born ladies bright,

Along whose brows the Queen's, new crowned, flashed coronets to light.

And so, the people at the gates, with priestly hand on high,

Which bring the first anointing to all legal majesty. And so the Dead-who lie in rows beneath the minster floor,

There, verily, an awful state maintaining evermore; The statesman whose clean palm will kiss no bribe whate'er it be,

The courtier who, for no fair queen, will rise up to his knee,

The court-dame who, for no court-tire, will leave her shroud behind,

The laureate who no courtlier rhyme than "dust to dust" can find,

The kings and queens who having made that vow and worn that crown,

Descended unto lower thrones and darker, deep adown!

Dieu et mon droit - what is't to them? — what mean

The King of kings, the right of death - God's judgment and the grave.

And when betwixt the quick and dead, the young fair queen had vowed,

The living shouted "May she live! Victoria, live!"

aloud.

And as the loyal shouts went up, true spirits prayed between,

"The blessings happy monarchs have, be thine, O crownèd queen!"

But now before her people's face she bendeth hers

anew,

And calls them, while she vows, to be her witness thereunto.

She vowed to rule, and, in that oath, her childhood

put away.

She doth maintain her womanhood, in vowing love to-day.

O, lovely lady!- let her vow!-such lips become such vows,

And fairer goeth bridal wreath than crown with vernal brows.

O, lovely lady! - let her vow! yea, let her vow to love!

And though she be no less a queen - with purples

hung above,

The pageant of a court behind, the royal kin around, And woven gold to catch her looks turned maidenly to ground,

Yet may the bride-veil hide from her a little of that state,

While loving hopes, for retinues, about her sweetness wait.

She vows to love who vowed to rule (the chosen at her side)

Let none say, God preserve the queen!-but, rather, Bless the bride!

None blow the trump, none bend the knee, none violate the dream

Wherein no monarch but a wife, she to herself may

seem.

Or if ye say, Preserve the queen! - oh, breathe it

inward low

She is a woman, and beloved! —and 'tis enough but so. Count it enough, thou noble prince, who tak'st her by the hand,

And claimest for thy lady-love, our lady of the

land!

And since, Prince Albert, men have called thy spirit high and rare,

And true to truth and brave for truth, as some at

Augsburg were, —

We charge thee by thy lofty thoughts, and by thy poet-mind

Which not by glory and degree takes measure of man

kind,

Esteem that wedded hand less dear for sceptre than for ring,

And hold her uncrowned womanhood to be the royal thing.

And now, upon our queen's last vow, what blessings shall we pray?

None, straitened to a shallow crown, will suit our lips to-day.

Behold, they must be free as love—they must be broad as free,.

Even to the borders of heaven's light and earth's humanity.

Long live she! - send up loyal shouts - and true hearts pray between

"The blessings happy peasants have, be thine, O crownèd queen!"

TO THE MEMORY OF PRINCE ALBERT

LORD TENNYSON

(From "Idylls of the King." Dedication)

PRINCE ALBERT died in 1861. He had been an ideal Prince Consort, greatly aiding the queen by advice and sympathy. His voice was always for peace and for such legislation as would better the lot of the poor.

These to His Memory - since he held them dear,
Perchance as finding there unconsciously

Some image of himself— I dedicate,