. . .

As when the snowdrop from the snowy ground
Lifting a maiden face, foretells the flowers
That lurk and listen, till the chaffinch sound
Spring's advent with the glistening willow crown'd,
Sheathed in their silken bowers:--
E'en so the promise of her life appears
Through those white childhood-years;
--Whether in seaside happiness, and air
Rosing the fair cheek,--sand, and spade, and shell,--
Or race with sister-feet, that flash'd and fell
Printing the beach, while the gay comrade-wind
Play'd in the soft light hair:--
Or if with sunbeam-smile and kind
Small hand at cottage-door
Her simple alms she tender'd to the poor:
Love's healthy happy heart in all her steps was seen,
And God, in life's fresh springtime, bless'd our Queen.

Lo! the quick months their order'd dance pursue,
And Spring's bright apple-blossoms flush to fruit;
The bay-tree thrives 'neath Heaven's own gracious dew,
And her young shoots the parent-life renew
Around the fostering root.
--The Girl from care in youth's sweet sleep withdrawn
Wakes to a crown at dawn!
But Love is at her side, strong, faithful, wise,
To share the world-wide burden of command,
The sceptre's weight in the unlesson'd hand;
To aid each nursery inmate,--each in turn
Dear pride of watchful eyes,--
To clasp the innocent hands, and learn
The words of love and grace,
Lifting their souls to the compassionate Face:--
While o'er the fortunate fold the Shepherd watch'd unseen;
And home, in all its beauty, bless'd a Queen.

Ah! Happy she, who wedded finds in one
Wisest and dearest! happy, happy years!
But summer whirlwinds wait on summer's sun;
Where the Five Rivers from Himala run,
His snow where Everest rears,
Or Alma's echoing crags with war-cry wake
The wind-vext Euxine lake.
--O Death in myriad forms! O brutal roar
Of battle! throes of race, and crash of thrones!
Imploring hands, and wreck of whitening bones
In Khyber pass;--Or woman's stifled cry,
And that dark pit of gore!
--Yet night had light; for He was by,
Her heart, her strength, her shield,
Twin-star in the Throne's radiance self-conceal'd;
Love's hand laid light on hers, guiding the ship unseen--
For God's best grace in Albert bless'd the Queen.

But at man's side each hour with ambush'd sword
Death hurries, nor for prayer nor love delays;
In God's ow