Wood-notes and Church-bells :: :: University of Virginia Library

The royal crown of England had fallen very low,
Dimmed was its ancient glory and many-jewelled glow,
When John, the unworthy tyrant, stooped from a foreign hand
To hold the jurisdiction over his own free land.

The king was weak and friendless, his enemies were strong;
The hearts of all his people estranged by years of wrong;
And in an evil moment his kingdom to retain
He tarnished his crown royal with a disgraceful stain.

145

Was this the crown his brother, the Lion-hearted, wore?
Whose fame the valiant Richard to the far Orient bore?
The crown which bold crusaders had lately seen to shine
The hope of banded armies in holy Palestine?

But England's royal symbol was soon itself again;
Our Edwards and our Henries wiped off the transient stain;
And many an added jewel on England's crown was seen
Ere, handed down through ages, it rested on our Queen.

Since great King Alfred wore it a thousand years have fled.
How has that rim of glory pressed many an aching head;
Uneasy lie the temples ordained to wear a crown,
And hands which bear a sceptre, how often they hand down!

146

Within that golden circlet what cares have made their nest,
What anxious thoughts have fluttered and banished peaceful rest:
The jewelled crown may glitter and captivate the eye,
But ah! 'tis sadly conscious of many a secret sigh.

Let not the people envy their sovereign's diadem;
The burden is the monarch's, the benefit for them:
The joys of equal friendship from royalty are hid,
The solitary topstone which crowns the pyramid!

The crown is the expression of a great people's power,
Its chosen head and mouth-piece to meet the current hour;
The crown in all its glory reflects the people's might,
The lofty source and symbol of justice and of right.

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As God has made the mountains to tower above the plains,
As o'er the circling planets the sun unmoving reigns,
So let the lawful monarch above the people rise,
And spread through all his kingdom the order of the skies.

While still the crown remembers its power is held in trust,
And that its highest glory is to be wise and just,
And its most precious jewel the people's loyal love—
Honouring their earthly monarch and fearing God above.

148

Oh, what a cheering lustre that love has lately shed
Within a darkened chamber whence hope itself had fled:
What earnest prayers it prompted the sinking Prince to save—
Prayers which prevailed to snatch him a trophy from the grave.

Long may the people cherish such feelings to the throne;
Long may the Crown of England such gentle influence own;
Which knits a loyal nation like ivy round a tree,
And stamps our Queen the Mother of one great family!

“Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”—

St. Peter.

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. —Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”—

St. Paul.

“Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and to God the things that are God's.”—

The Lord Jesus Christ.