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CROWNED AND WEDDED.
The kings and queens who having made that vow and worn that crown,
Descended unto lower thrones and darker, deep adown!
Dieu et mon droit—what is't to them?—what meaning can it have?—
The King of kings, the rights of death—God's judgment and the grave!
And when betwixt the quick and dead the young fair queen had vowed,
The living shouted "May she live! Victoria, live!" aloud—
And as the loyal shouts went up, true spirits prayed between,
"The blessings happy monarchs have, be thine, O crowned queen!"
Descended unto lower thrones and darker, deep adown!
Dieu et mon droit—what is't to them?—what meaning can it have?—
The King of kings, the rights of death—God's judgment and the grave!
And when betwixt the quick and dead the young fair queen had vowed,
The living shouted "May she live! Victoria, live!" aloud—
And as the loyal shouts went up, true spirits prayed between,
"The blessings happy monarchs have, be thine, O crowned queen!"
But now before her people's face she bendeth her's anew,
And calls them, while she vows, to be her witness thereunto.
She vowed to rule, and in that oath, her childhood put away—
She doth maintain her womanhood, in vowing love to-day.
Oh, lovely lady!—let her vow!—such lips become such vows,—
And fairer goeth bridal wreath than crown with vernal brows!
Oh, lovely lady!—let her vow!—yea, let her vow to love!—
And though she be no less a queen—with purples hung above,
The pageant of a court behind, the royal kin around,
And woven gold to catch her looks turned maidenly to ground,—
Yet may the bride-veil hide from her a little of that state,
While loving hopes, for retinues, about her sweetness wait!—
She vows to love, who vowed to rule—the chosen at her side—
Let none say, God preserve the Queen!—but rather, Bless the bride!—
None blow the trump, none bend the knee, none violate the dream
Wherein no monarch, but a wife, she to herself may seem!
Or if ye say, Preserve the Queen!—oh, breathe it inward low—
She is a woman, and beloved!—and 'tis enough but so!
Count it enough, thou noble prince, who tak'st her by the hand,
And claimest for thy lady-love, our lady of the land!—
And calls them, while she vows, to be her witness thereunto.
She vowed to rule, and in that oath, her childhood put away—
She doth maintain her womanhood, in vowing love to-day.
Oh, lovely lady!—let her vow!—such lips become such vows,—
And fairer goeth bridal wreath than crown with vernal brows!
Oh, lovely lady!—let her vow!—yea, let her vow to love!—
And though she be no less a queen—with purples hung above,
The pageant of a court behind, the royal kin around,
And woven gold to catch her looks turned maidenly to ground,—
Yet may the bride-veil hide from her a little of that state,
While loving hopes, for retinues, about her sweetness wait!—
She vows to love, who vowed to rule—the chosen at her side—
Let none say, God preserve the Queen!—but rather, Bless the bride!—
None blow the trump, none bend the knee, none violate the dream
Wherein no monarch, but a wife, she to herself may seem!
Or if ye say, Preserve the Queen!—oh, breathe it inward low—
She is a woman, and beloved!—and 'tis enough but so!
Count it enough, thou noble prince, who tak'st her by the hand,
And claimest for thy lady-love, our lady of the land!—
