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1
Sovereignty
When erst in Jewry stood the King of Kings,
For mockery robed in purple, crowned with thorn,
Glory beyond the pomp of earthly things
Broke through the mean disguise of human scorn:
For mockery robed in purple, crowned with thorn,
Glory beyond the pomp of earthly things
Broke through the mean disguise of human scorn:
And power that stoops, and weakness that is strength,
And sovereignty, no more a splendid sin,
Flashed on a world bewildered, taught at length
To seek the signs of honour from within.
And sovereignty, no more a splendid sin,
Flashed on a world bewildered, taught at length
To seek the signs of honour from within.
So kingly service earned the right to reign,
And lords of earth who claim the bended knee,
Throned in their State, might nevermore disdain
The burden-bearers of the world to be.
And lords of earth who claim the bended knee,
Throned in their State, might nevermore disdain
The burden-bearers of the world to be.
Envy them not: amid the glittering show
How irketh kings their greatness who shall ken?
Never alone, what loneliness they know,
What yearning for the simple lives of men!
How irketh kings their greatness who shall ken?
Never alone, what loneliness they know,
What yearning for the simple lives of men!
Under the search-light of the world's vast eye,
That sweeps his path, each trivial act to scan—
Nay, deep into his secret soul would pry—
He must be manful who shall play the man,
That sweeps his path, each trivial act to scan—
Nay, deep into his secret soul would pry—
He must be manful who shall play the man,
Who, bare to every censure random-hurled,
No crowd to screen him, can erect and free
Stand out against the sky-line of the world,
Invulnerable in his integrity,
No crowd to screen him, can erect and free
Stand out against the sky-line of the world,
Invulnerable in his integrity,
2
Can in great issues serve or sway the State,
Lord of his own, yet of his own the thrall,
And, set without the barriers of debate,
Through the loud clamour of the Council-hall,
Lord of his own, yet of his own the thrall,
And, set without the barriers of debate,
Through the loud clamour of the Council-hall,
Can yet a nation's nobler heart-beat hear,
Arm for the right, or, touched with human woe,
Trim Mercy's trembling balance with a tear—
Nor self-mistrust nor self-elation know.
Arm for the right, or, touched with human woe,
Trim Mercy's trembling balance with a tear—
Nor self-mistrust nor self-elation know.
Spare then your flattery, speed them with your prayers;
And here in London, while the joy bells ring,
While the crowds gather, and the trumpet blares,
Cry we “God strengthen, as God save, the King!”
And here in London, while the joy bells ring,
While the crowds gather, and the trumpet blares,
Cry we “God strengthen, as God save, the King!”
For though with heaven and loyal hearts to aid,
This weight of Empire may be bravely borne,
Purple is weary wear, when all is said,
The crown, though golden, edged with inward thorn.
This weight of Empire may be bravely borne,
Purple is weary wear, when all is said,
The crown, though golden, edged with inward thorn.
August, 1902.
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