The poetical works of Robert Stephen Hawker Edited from the original manuscripts and annotated copies together with a prefatory notice and bibliography by Alfred Wallis |
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THE SECOND BIRTH OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL OF ENGLAND—VICTORIA ADELAIDE MARY LOUISA. |
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 | The poetical works of Robert Stephen Hawker |  |
THE SECOND BIRTH OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL OF ENGLAND—VICTORIA ADELAIDE MARY LOUISA.
“King's daughters were among thy honourable women.”
Ps, xlv. 9.
Gold! ruddy, rich, and rare!
With silver from the mine—
The gems of price are glorious there,
And costly vessels shine;
And storied walls are nobly spread
With fair forms of the living dead!
With silver from the mine—
The gems of price are glorious there,
And costly vessels shine;
And storied walls are nobly spread
With fair forms of the living dead!
Bright brow and graceful mien!
The guests of bower and hall—
They come to watch a sacred scene,
The solemn festival—
A proud and stately host they stand,
The kingly blood of English land.
The guests of bower and hall—
They come to watch a sacred scene,
The solemn festival—
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The kingly blood of English land.
A priest! a man grown old,
With voice of ancient tone,
And agèd arms, that fain must hold
The offspring of a throne;
That voice shall greet, those hands will bless
The flower of England's loveliness.
With voice of ancient tone,
And agèd arms, that fain must hold
The offspring of a throne;
That voice shall greet, those hands will bless
The flower of England's loveliness.
A prayer—a vow—the sign—
The mystic waters poured:
And lo! the child of earthly line
Is daughter of the Lord!
What glories fill—what wonders haunt
The rich breast of that silvery font!—
The mystic waters poured:
And lo! the child of earthly line
Is daughter of the Lord!
What glories fill—what wonders haunt
The rich breast of that silvery font!—
Yet from no native streams,
Though beautiful they be—
From no glad river, as it gleams,
A pilgrim to the sea:
They will not lave from English springs
The daughter of a thousand kings.
Though beautiful they be—
From no glad river, as it gleams,
A pilgrim to the sea:
They will not lave from English springs
The daughter of a thousand kings.
River of lordly Dan!
Thine was the chosen bed;
The glory of thy waters ran
Around that infant head;
'Twas thou! with life, and breath, and fame,
Proud memories, and a mighty name.
Thine was the chosen bed;
The glory of thy waters ran
Around that infant head;
'Twas thou! with life, and breath, and fame,
Proud memories, and a mighty name.
Thou! that in ancient days
Didst hear the voice of God,
And fleddest; while thy torrent-ways
The hosts of Israel trod.
Thy gentle waters, pure and mild,
Fell softly on that happy child!
Didst hear the voice of God,
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The hosts of Israel trod.
Thy gentle waters, pure and mild,
Fell softly on that happy child!
Thou! that of old didst lave
The Maiden's Awful Birth
Even He that made thy Syrian wave
The glory of the earth!—
See! o'er her brow thy fountains glide—
Her own dear Saviour's blessèd tide!
The Maiden's Awful Birth
Even He that made thy Syrian wave
The glory of the earth!—
See! o'er her brow thy fountains glide—
Her own dear Saviour's blessèd tide!
Keep, child of England's fame,
The blessing and the vow:
The mighty thought, what waters came
To touch thine infant brow:
Lo! Jordan rolls beyond the sea,
Bright babe, with memory of thee!
The blessing and the vow:
The mighty thought, what waters came
To touch thine infant brow:
Lo! Jordan rolls beyond the sea,
Bright babe, with memory of thee!
Red gold that brow may bind,
Gems 'mid thy beauty shine,
Around that form rich robes be twined
With silver from the mine:
But fairer fall, and lovelier gleam
The starry dews of Syria's stream!
Gems 'mid thy beauty shine,
Around that form rich robes be twined
With silver from the mine:
But fairer fall, and lovelier gleam
The starry dews of Syria's stream!
Circa 1840.
| The poetical works of Robert Stephen Hawker | |