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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TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE ALBERT OF SAXE-COBURG AND GOTHA. |
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 | The poetical works of Robert Stephen Hawker |  |
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TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE ALBERT OF SAXE-COBURG AND GOTHA.
He comes! a Conqueror! with the soft control
Mightier than warrior's sword in monarch's hand;
He comes! to claim the Lady of his soul—
A fearless knight from the old German land!
Mightier than warrior's sword in monarch's hand;
He comes! to claim the Lady of his soul—
A fearless knight from the old German land!
A voice of welcome from a thousand hills!
The sound of love in earth and air and sea!
A nation's heart, thy name, Prince Albert! fills
With prayer and blessing for thy Bride and thee!
The sound of love in earth and air and sea!
A nation's heart, thy name, Prince Albert! fills
With prayer and blessing for thy Bride and thee!
Thou comest to link thee with a lofty soil,
A land of graceful dames and stately men:
Be proud! on thee will England's Daughter smile,
And thou on England's Queen look love again.
A land of graceful dames and stately men:
Be proud! on thee will England's Daughter smile,
And thou on England's Queen look love again.
What haughty dreams thy gathering visions yield!
'Tis thine the awful couch of kings to share;
The hope of many a land thine arm must shield,
The Beauty of our Isles shall slumber there!
'Tis thine the awful couch of kings to share;
The hope of many a land thine arm must shield,
The Beauty of our Isles shall slumber there!
Bring princes in thy breast across the brine!
Lo, round the chaste form of thy noble mate
The future spirits of a shadowy line,
The souls of kings unborn, in silence wait!
Lo, round the chaste form of thy noble mate
The future spirits of a shadowy line,
The souls of kings unborn, in silence wait!
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Forget thy father-land! Thou hast no more
Another city, hearth, or native home:
This is thy country, this thy natural shore,
Thine eagle-nest amid the ocean-foam.
Another city, hearth, or native home:
This is thy country, this thy natural shore,
Thine eagle-nest amid the ocean-foam.
Come! at an English altar proudly stand—
Take, from our ancient priest, thy chosen bride!
Breathe, in the language of thy Lady's land,
The eternal vows—the pledge of love and pride!
Take, from our ancient priest, thy chosen bride!
Breathe, in the language of thy Lady's land,
The eternal vows—the pledge of love and pride!
Rejoice, O Prince! her Fathers' Faith is thine,
One worship and one creed ye twain will share;
How many a solemn arch and cloistered shrine
Shall hail your blended names in English prayer!
One worship and one creed ye twain will share;
How many a solemn arch and cloistered shrine
Shall hail your blended names in English prayer!
Love well our clime! the scenery of thy choice,
Thy Lady's isle—the pride of earth and sea;
Her fanes will greet thee with their holiest voice,
Her towers among the trees shall thrill for thee!
Thy Lady's isle—the pride of earth and sea;
Her fanes will greet thee with their holiest voice,
Her towers among the trees shall thrill for thee!
'Tis not the troth of state—the plighted hands
Where passion shudders at the feet of pride;
No selfish bridegroom at yon altar stands,
Nor glitters there a cold and reckless bride!
Where passion shudders at the feet of pride;
No selfish bridegroom at yon altar stands,
Nor glitters there a cold and reckless bride!
Joy to that fane! the noble and the fair
Are met to blend the tones of love and truth.
Joy to that fane! an English lady there
Binds to her soul the husband of her youth.
Are met to blend the tones of love and truth.
Joy to that fane! an English lady there
Binds to her soul the husband of her youth.
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He comes, as came the mighty hearts of old,
The men of bounding steed and belted brand;
That which his vows have won his arm shall hold—
A fearless knight from the old German land!
The men of bounding steed and belted brand;
That which his vows have won his arm shall hold—
A fearless knight from the old German land!
The voice of welcome, Prince! I wake once more,—
Far from the glare of courts, from cities free,
A lowly name, on Cornwall's rocky shore,
I breathe this blessing for thy Bride and thee!
Far from the glare of courts, from cities free,
A lowly name, on Cornwall's rocky shore,
I breathe this blessing for thy Bride and thee!
January, 8th, 1840.
| The poetical works of Robert Stephen Hawker | |