 | 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition |  |
TO CONSTANCE—
O thou, who bearest a historic name,
Dear to the heart of England, and to all
Who love that land their mother-land to call,
Thy face to me as England's glory came.
Dear to the heart of England, and to all
Who love that land their mother-land to call,
Thy face to me as England's glory came.
For it reflects full many a noble dame,
Whose portrait hangs upon the pictured wall
Of memory, and nations risen to fame,
With woman framed like thee can never fall.
Whose portrait hangs upon the pictured wall
Of memory, and nations risen to fame,
With woman framed like thee can never fall.
For purity is written on thy brow,
And breathes about thee, in a queenly state,
The holy spell that stronger is than Fate;
And breathes about thee, in a queenly state,
The holy spell that stronger is than Fate;
Nor is there safeguard like the solemn vow
Of consecration, and we ask not how,
While maidens live like thee, men must be great.
Of consecration, and we ask not how,
While maidens live like thee, men must be great.
| 'Twixt Kiss and Lip or Under the Sword. By the author of "Women Must Weep," [i.e. F. W. O. Ward] Third edition | |