English Poetry I: From Chaucer to Gray.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
| |
| 242. On the Queen’s Return from the Low Countries |
| | | William Cartwright (1611–1643) |
| |
| |
| HALLOW the threshold, crown the posts anew! | |
| The day shall have its due. | |
| Twist all our victories into one bright wreath, | |
| On which let honour breathe: | |
| Then throw it round the temples of our Queen! | 5 |
| ’Tis she that must preserve those glories green. | |
| |
| When greater tempests than on sea before | |
| Received her on the shore; | |
| When she was shot at ‘for the King’s own good’ | |
| By legions hired to blood; | 10 |
| How bravely did she do, how bravely bear! | |
| And show’d, though they durst rage, she durst not fear. | |
| |
| Courage was cast about her like a dress | |
| Of solemn comeliness: | |
| A gather’d mind and an untroubled face | 15 |
| Did give her dangers grace: | |
| Thus, arm’d with innocence, secure they move | |
| Whose highest ‘treason’ is but highest love. | |
| |
|
|
|
