Page:Poems Jackson.djvu/344

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244
POEMS.
Sweet queen, her kingdom rocks! Her only stay
And comfort now, the loving Pines who wait
In solemn grief, unmoved and undismayed
By guile or threats, and to their farthest kin,
A haughty and untarnished race, will keep
Eternally inviolate and green
Their sworn allegiance to her and all
Her name! Encircled by their arms she dies;
And not the deadliest thrusts of wintry spears,
Nor sweeping avalanche of snow and ice,
Can daunt them from their silent watch around
Her sepulchre, nor from their faithful hold
Can wrest the babe, who, hid in sacred depths
And fed on sacred food, and nurtured till
The fated day, shall lift her infant hand,
And slaying the usurper, take the throne
Next in the royal line of summer queens.


TO-DAY.
O SADDEST prisoner, to death condemned,
Going blindfold, with slow, reluctant feet,
Hands fettered and mute lips, thy doom to meet,
By flaming swords before, behind thee, hemmed,
Led by two Fates,—To-morrow, with her gemmed
Arms that flash mocking tokens of the sweet
Things thou hadst hoped; and Yesterday with cheat
Of withered roses which thou hast contemned,