CROWNED AND WEDDED.
239
Crowned and Wedded.
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 sight—
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 righteousness,
And with the law and for the land!—so God the vower bless!
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 sight—
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 righteousness,
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 aisled scene.
The priests stood stoled in their pomp, the sworded chiefs in theirs,
And so, the collared knights,—and so, the civil ministers,—
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 hands 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—
And long-drawn glitterings swept adown that mighty aisled scene.
The priests stood stoled in their pomp, the sworded chiefs in theirs,
And so, the collared knights,—and so, the civil ministers,—
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 hands 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—
