I THE young queen Nature, ever sweet and fair, Once on a time fell upon evil days. From hearing oft herself discussed with praise, There grew within her heart the longing rare To see herself; and every passing air The warm desire fanned into lusty blaze. Full oft she sought this end by devious ways, But sought in vain, so fell she in despair. For none within her train nor by her side Could solve the task or give the envied boon. So day and night, beneath the sun and moon, She wandered to and fro unsatisfied, Till Art came by, a blithe inventive elf, And made a glass wherein she saw herself. II Enrapt, the queen gazed on her glorious self, Then trembling with the thrill of sudden thought, Commanded that the skilful wight be brought That she might dower him with lands and pelf. Then out upon the silent sea-lapt shelf And up the hills and on the downs they sought Him who so well and wondrously had wrought; And with much search found and brought home the elf. But he put by all gifts with sad replies, And from his lips these words flowed forth like wine: "O queen, I want no gift but thee," he said. She heard and looked on him with love-lit eyes, Gave him her hand, low murmuring, "I am thine," And at the morrow's dawning they were wed. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MUSIC, FR. TWELFTH NIGHT by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THE CHARWOMAN by GEORGE LAWRENCE ANDREWS A FARMHOUSE DIRGE by ALFRED AUSTIN EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 20. EVER PRESENT by PHILIP AYRES THREE GUESTS by ETHEL SKIPTON BARRINGER CLIO, NINE ECLOGUES IN HONOUR OF NINE VIRTUES: 8. OF CONSTANCY by WILLIAM BASSE IN A FRIEND'S GARDEN by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON |