 | The bard, and minor poems |  |
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ADDRESS TO THE PRINCESS VICTORIA,
ON ATTAINING HER MAJORITY.
Heaven's blessings be upon thee,
Fair heiress of the land,
Born to ancestral monarchies
Of splendour and command!
Gigantic nations honour thee,
And kiss thy queenly hand.
Fair heiress of the land,
Born to ancestral monarchies
Of splendour and command!
Gigantic nations honour thee,
And kiss thy queenly hand.
Swart India with her millions
Is kneeling at thy feet;
The old monarchic chieftains
Thy rising glory greet;
And each rejoicing British heart
Doth now exultant beat.
Is kneeling at thy feet;
The old monarchic chieftains
Thy rising glory greet;
And each rejoicing British heart
Doth now exultant beat.
The laurels of a thousand years
Are circled o'er thy brow;
The victories of all her kings
Are of thy trophies now:
For Cressy fierce, and Agincourt,
Do now resplendent glow.
Are circled o'er thy brow;
The victories of all her kings
Are of thy trophies now:
For Cressy fierce, and Agincourt,
Do now resplendent glow.
Each cliff that soars majestical,
Each valley rich and fair,
Each wood that owns thy natal May,
Is proud of England's heir:
All Nature joins in chorus sweet,
Delighting 'neath thy care.
Each valley rich and fair,
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Is proud of England's heir:
All Nature joins in chorus sweet,
Delighting 'neath thy care.
The virtuous, and the brave, and great,
The mighty and the wise,
Are link'd to guard thee on thy throne,
And beard thy enemies;
And poets, in immortal lays,
Will hymn thee to the skies.
The mighty and the wise,
Are link'd to guard thee on thy throne,
And beard thy enemies;
And poets, in immortal lays,
Will hymn thee to the skies.
Grim Treason shall not daunt thee,
Rebellion shall not fright;
A million gleaming swords would leap
Their scabbards for the fight:
For the old warriors of the land
Can well defend the right.
Rebellion shall not fright;
A million gleaming swords would leap
Their scabbards for the fight:
For the old warriors of the land
Can well defend the right.
Heaven's blessings be around thee,
Fair Princess of the Isle;
For youth adorns thy radiant brow,
And Joy is in thy smile;
And Hope and Beauty shroud thee
From every earthly guile!
Fair Princess of the Isle;
For youth adorns thy radiant brow,
And Joy is in thy smile;
And Hope and Beauty shroud thee
From every earthly guile!
And He who fills heaven's azure,
Beyond or sun, or star,
Hath led thy infant footsteps,
Hath loved thee from afar:
And sway'd thy virtuous bosom
By his paternal care.
Beyond or sun, or star,
Hath led thy infant footsteps,
Hath loved thee from afar:
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By his paternal care.
Power, glory, are before thee,
The empire of the sea;
The courtly adulation
Of smiles, and bended knee;
But, more than all, proud lady,
A nation of the Free!
The empire of the sea;
The courtly adulation
Of smiles, and bended knee;
But, more than all, proud lady,
A nation of the Free!
A nation famed for liberty,
For valour and renown,
Will swear the oath of loyalty,
Allegiance to thy crown;
And let him die, the traitor
Who shall thy power disown!
For valour and renown,
Will swear the oath of loyalty,
Allegiance to thy crown;
And let him die, the traitor
Who shall thy power disown!
And when thou shalt be Sovereign Queen,
The sceptre in thy hand,
Remember, how old England won
Her glory and command;
How, by her Church, and Lords, and Laws,
She is so great a land.
The sceptre in thy hand,
Remember, how old England won
Her glory and command;
How, by her Church, and Lords, and Laws,
She is so great a land.
Sustain the ancient altar,
Religion's surest good;
Sustain the aristocracy
From anarchy and blood;
And, oh, let Freedom firmly stand
Where it hath ever stood!
Religion's surest good;
Sustain the aristocracy
From anarchy and blood;
And, oh, let Freedom firmly stand
Where it hath ever stood!
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Then will thy kingdom bless thee,
And millions cheer thy name;
The fertile vales will paint thy praise,
Thy triumph, power, and fame;
And History's pages consecrate
Thy reign in words of flame.
And millions cheer thy name;
The fertile vales will paint thy praise,
Thy triumph, power, and fame;
And History's pages consecrate
Thy reign in words of flame.
All Hope and Truth attend thee,
Britannia's dearest gem;
Let all unite in common pride,
To glorify her name:
And may the God of heaven protect
Her crown and diadem.
Britannia's dearest gem;
Let all unite in common pride,
To glorify her name:
And may the God of heaven protect
Her crown and diadem.
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