 | Women must weep |  |
THE UNCROWNED QUEEN.
Look beneath the surface mean,
Dwell not on the tatter'd gown,—
Arms of labour bare and brown,
Face so pitifully lean;
Where was ever woman seen,
In the billows of the surging town,
Where the many victims sink and drown,
Holding fame more fair and green?
Where hath woman ever been,
Braver against lure and hostile frown,
Than the modesttoiler, who is Queen?
Bring a crown.
Dwell not on the tatter'd gown,—
Arms of labour bare and brown,
Face so pitifully lean;
Where was ever woman seen,
In the billows of the surging town,
Where the many victims sink and drown,
Holding fame more fair and green?
Where hath woman ever been,
Braver against lure and hostile frown,
Than the modesttoiler, who is Queen?
Bring a crown.
153
Seek not here for diamonds rare,
Satin robe or silken tone,
Where rich fortune has not shone;
Every day is load of care,
Heavier than the last she bare;
Oft her feet are on the filthy stone,
Oft she envies even the cur its bone,
And the cheese-rind others pare,
Though she mighty is to dare,
If she grandly suffers long and lone;
Give, however idle monarchs fare,
Her a throne.
Satin robe or silken tone,
Where rich fortune has not shone;
Every day is load of care,
Heavier than the last she bare;
Oft her feet are on the filthy stone,
Oft she envies even the cur its bone,
And the cheese-rind others pare,
Though she mighty is to dare,
If she grandly suffers long and lone;
Give, however idle monarchs fare,
Her a throne.
Ask not lineage, if she draws
True descent from noble start,
Sires who play'd a bloody part
In the strife of class-made laws,
Feudal system black with flaws;
If she knows the supple, polish'd art,
Which can smile above the bitter smart,
Toy with breaking lives and straws,
Govern as with tiger-claws;
She is honest in the mire and mart,
And she keeps, in low temptation's jaws,
Royal heart.
True descent from noble start,
Sires who play'd a bloody part
In the strife of class-made laws,
Feudal system black with flaws;
If she knows the supple, polish'd art,
Which can smile above the bitter smart,
Toy with breaking lives and straws,
Govern as with tiger-claws;
She is honest in the mire and mart,
And she keeps, in low temptation's jaws,
Royal heart.
Not a heroine trim and tall,
Just a plain unnoticed elf,
With one plate of common delf,
And no picture on the wall,
Great alone in office small;
But as clean from passion's taint and pelf,
As the empty plate on empty shelf;
Hers, if soilèd is the shawl,
Which is not her virtue's pall;
And though not a man-besceptred Guelph,
Yet she can, where princes fail and fall,
Rule herself.
Just a plain unnoticed elf,
With one plate of common delf,
And no picture on the wall,
Great alone in office small;
But as clean from passion's taint and pelf,
As the empty plate on empty shelf;
Hers, if soilèd is the shawl,
Which is not her virtue's pall;
And though not a man-besceptred Guelph,
Yet she can, where princes fail and fall,
Rule herself.
| Women must weep | |