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491
WRITTEN IN WINDSOR CASTLE.
I
Kingly abode of kings, breathing thy airI breathe the reverence that bends souls down
Before the awful presence of a crown.
Queen of our land, thou who dost purely wear,
Thy people's boast, the lofty golden care
Of sovereignty, those who nor smile nor frown
Of courts have heeded, they to thee bow down,
Whose reign is queenly as thy life is fair.
Great in our love are thou as in the power
Thou drawest with thy blood from lines of kings.
Thy rule is wider than thy lands this hour.
The love of nations o'er thy greatness flings
Blessings, which are alone thy virtues' dower,
Thy queenliest virtues with which earth still rings.
II
Prudence hath been thy teacher—thy high guide,Wisdom; her, thou hast wisely bade to school
Passion for power uncurbed, which shakes the rule,
This hour, of reigns unnumbered far and wide;
Therefore thy throne, upon our love and pride,
Rests shockless—calm—defiant of the fool
Who rails at rules unblemished, and the tool
Of factions which bid passion over-ride
Reason, and know but hate of every throne.
Self-ruled thyself, to us self-rule thou too
Hast yielded. The high wisdom thou hast known,
That rarest wisdom known but to how few
Throne-seated, they do most who gladly own
Their best deeds those they see their people do.
492
III
Nor over men, O ruler, dost thou reignAlone, but regnant in thy own high will,
Curbing thy thoughts and feelings, to fulfil
The duties which so often Earth in vain
Demands of kings, to whom observance fain
Would bend, unquestioning their great pleasure still,
Finding good, in them, what in all is ill,
Till good near thrones but seldom dare remain.
Ruling, by virtue ruled, thou hast obeyed
All laws God-given. In thee thy parents found
A child to smile on. Womanhood thee made
A wife we reverence, true to love's blest law.
“Be mothers like thee!” so by men 'tis said,
More deeply ruled by thee by love than awe.
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