With what delight, amid the landscape gay,
The slow stream winds his pleasurable way,
With such delight my life's smooth current roll'd,
By fate allow'd my Margaret to behold.
And, ah! so sad, so languid, and so slow,
When doom'd by Fate thy presence to forego!
Whilst in mute wonder on thy face I gaze,
Dire doubts distract, alarm me, and amaze;
I think, I pause, and many a scheme revolve,
Till at the last I fix'd my firm resolve ;
Soon was my plan propos'd, and soon approv'd,
I woo'd for Henry, for myself I lov❜d,
And gave, in change for thee, thy Sire to reign
O'er fertile Anjou, and the fields of Maine.
Then straight, for love like mine ill brook'd delay,
To England's court I bent my hasty way,
And soon the tale to Henry's ear convey'd,
Whilst soft persuasion gave me all her aid;
He heard the oft told tale with favoring ear,
And sigh'd in secret for the pictur'd fair:
I mark'd the gradual growth of young desire,
And added fuel to the rising fire;
I nurs'd the flame, and, when maturer grown,
I urg'd the timorous King that flame to own,
When the proud barons, insolent and vain,
Thy rank, thy country, and thyself disdain,
And when the noisy crowd, still prone to strife,
Scorn'd the bought nuptials, and the dowerless wife,
"Hence with the idle tale, enrag'd I cried,
Kingdoms are well exchang'd for such a bride,
It now alone remains to waft her o'er
From Gallia's coast to England's happier shore."
I spoke. Th' attendant lords, with zealous care, And costly art my princely train prepare ; Soon in her port my gallant vessel rode, And soon receiv'd with joy her precious load. And soon my beauteous Queen was wafted o'er From Gallia's coast to England's happier shore.
When bright in all her charms my Margaret came, Faction was hush'd, and Pride forgot to blame, Thy beauty was the theme of every tongue, Was prais'd by grave and gay, by old and young; That winning air, that heavenly smile, disarms E'en Envy's self, enamor'd of thy charms; She dwells in rapture on thy faultless face, Majestic mien, and more than mortal grace.
How did thy charms thy Suffolk's bosom move! How deeply did he drink the draught of Love! For not the crown that bound thy beauteous brow Woke my warm wish, or drew the venal vow: I scorn'd the pageant toys, for, bless'd with thee, Ah, what were sceptres, what were crowns to me! Nor gorgeous crowns, nor regal sceptres move ; I listen'd only to the voice of Love.
But now, alas! far other thoughts arise, Far other scenes distract my closing eyes!
For, ah! the ruthless ruffian chides my stay,
And envious Death denies this short delay;
Denies me longer on the theme to dwell:-
More lov'd than life, my beauteous Queen, farewell!
LET these soft lines my kindest thoughts convey,
And tell thee what I suffer by thy stay.
Did seas divide us, this might well excuse
Thy negligence, and my fond heart abuse.
But Calais from the Kentish strand is seen;
A gentle current only rolls between.
Nor needs my Suffolk, like Leander, brave
A present death in every breaking wave,
When, guided only by a glimmering light,
He cross'd the stormy Hellespont by night.
Tall ships, with flying sails and laboring oars,
Attend to land thee on the Gallic shores.
But thou art chang'd-that ardor is expir'd,
Which once thy wishes with impatience fir'd;
When Savoy's blooming duchess strove in vain
From me the conquest of thy heart to gain:
Invited by great Henry's martial fame,
The haughty princess, with her brother, came
To compliment the King for Tournay gain'd;
Where, in a rich pavilion entertain❜d,
Thy noble form th' unguarded Fair surpriz'd;
Nor were her tender wishes long disguis'd :
Whatever Flattery, Love, or wanton Art,
Could do, she practis'd to seduce thy heart.
Great Antony, by such allurements gain'd,
For Cleopatra all his glory stain'd:
But thy firm faith no injury receiv'd;
For you still lov'd, or I was well deceiv'd:
Nor were my virgin vows less true to thee,
When young Castile address'd the court for me.
The charms of proffer'd empire I resign'd;
Brandon was more than empire to my mind:
While, without rivals, in thy breast I reign'd,
My thoughts the pageantry of power disdain'd.
But, ah! what changes human joys attend!
On fickle turns our brightest hopes depend.
Victorious Henry's arms still meet success;
The vanquish'd Gauls at last propose a peace.
By Wolsey's policy their terms succeed;
The long contending nations are agreed;
And I the public victim am decreed.
Condemn'd to share the Christian Monarch's bed,
And curs'd with that magnificence I fled.
I knew my rank no private choice allow'd,
And what a Princess to her country ow'd.
These splendid maxims should have sway'd my breast,
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