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LINES TO THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND.
Lady, perchance my untaught strain
May little suit a royal ear;
But I would break my lyre in twain
Ere aught it yield be insincere.
May little suit a royal ear;
But I would break my lyre in twain
Ere aught it yield be insincere.
There's been enough of dulcet tone
To praise thy charms and greet thy youth;
But I, though standing by thy throne,
Would proudly dare to sing the truth.
To praise thy charms and greet thy youth;
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Would proudly dare to sing the truth.
I cannot join the minstrel throng
Who pour idolatrous pretence;
Because I deem such fulsome song
Must sadly pall upon thy sense.
Who pour idolatrous pretence;
Because I deem such fulsome song
Must sadly pall upon thy sense.
Thou art a star, whose leading light
Must beacon through a stormy way:
Shine out, and, if thou guid'st aright,
Our hearts will bless the saving ray.
Must beacon through a stormy way:
Shine out, and, if thou guid'st aright,
Our hearts will bless the saving ray.
If thou would'st walk a better path
Than regal steps have chiefly trod,
So sway thy sceptre, that it hath
Some glorious attributes of God.
Than regal steps have chiefly trod,
So sway thy sceptre, that it hath
Some glorious attributes of God.
Peace, mercy, justice, mark His reign,
And these should dwell with all who rule;
Beware! resist the poison bane
Of tyrant, knave, or courtier fool.
And these should dwell with all who rule;
Beware! resist the poison bane
Of tyrant, knave, or courtier fool.
Thou hast been train'd by goodly hand
To fill thy place of mighty care;
And Heaven forbid that faction's band
Should turn our hopes to blank despair.
To fill thy place of mighty care;
And Heaven forbid that faction's band
Should turn our hopes to blank despair.
Lean on thy people, trust their love,
Thou'lt never find a stronger shield;
The “toiling herd” will nobly prove
What warm devotion they can yield.
Thou'lt never find a stronger shield;
The “toiling herd” will nobly prove
What warm devotion they can yield.
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Remember, much of weal or woe
To millions, rest alone with thee;
Be firm, and let Old England show
A nation happy, wise, and free.
To millions, rest alone with thee;
Be firm, and let Old England show
A nation happy, wise, and free.
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