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9
QUEEN VICTORIA.
March, 1882.
What shall protect from the assassin's aim?
A long life free from littleness or blame,
A reign devoted to a nation's good,
A model mother, wife, and widowhood?
The grand simplicity that Alfred used,
The upright mind that ever has refused
To let dismay or interest seduce
Her from her people's constituted use?
No, nor subordination of her choice,
And recognition of the country's voice,
When duly, and in proper form conveyed,
Nor all the sacrifices hourly made
Of a most rare conjugal happiness,
To minute ceremony and the stress
And conduct of affairs, such as she judged
To need her taking part. Be sure she grudged
The precious moments often, and would fain
Upon the threshold have turned back again,
But she was never deaf to duty's call,
But loved to learn them and find time for all;
And, 'mid the hundred cares of queen and wife,
The ties of royal and domestic life,
She yet would make the time to satisfy
With her own hands the claims of charity.
We hold in just abhorrence the mad churl
Who had the heart to fire upon a girl,
Just in the bud of beauty, pow'r, and love;
But what was this man to the wretch that strove
10
Has been a drying up of widow's tears,
Healing of wounds, and nurture of the sick;
Under whose even rule hath fallen thick
The golden rain of plenty on her realm;
A pilot who hath never left the helm;
A mother of her people, and their queen;
A lawlover such as there has not been
Since the great Saxon king was gathered in
To rest at Winchester beside his kin.
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