England’s Hope.

Note.—The author takes the opportunity of stating here that, having sent of the three poems—“England’s Hope,” “Christening the Prince,” and “Our Little Brother”—to Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales (as the three incidents occurred), he had the gratification of receiving on each occasion a letter expressing their thanks for the same.

When suddenly one wintry night,

Throughout the land with ’lectric flight,

The news [58] sped far and wide,

Old England ’rose with sterling joy,

And hail’d the princely infant boy!—

The offspring of our pride.

For whilst on Britain’s favour’d soil,

Ten thousand round had ceas’d from toil,

Kind nature rack’d her frame:

But Time, the god of hope and fear,

Deign’d not, in love, to linger there;

Relief was wrought and came!

And Providence, so wondrous kind,

Thus sooth’d a mother’s anguish’d mind—

The parent [59] of our hope:

Whose children’s transient joys, or cares,

She most affectionately shares

With gentle sovereign scope.

Thanks! thanks! a myriad hearts entreat;

Look upwards and with zeal repeat

This universal song,—

Grant to the mother, God, so good,

Thy daily gifts of choicest food;

And pour amid the throng,

On her Thy unction of sweet peace;

Thy wisdom and Thy care increase,

And save her from the foe

That robb’d us of a cherish’d name.[60]

Let health and charity inflame:—

Command it to be so,

“’Tis done!” Praise, and with might implore

The righteous God, His gifts to store

For the sweet infant prince;—

To gird with strength and love combined;

T’endow him with a generous mind:

And let a people hence-

Forth render eagerly their arms,

If that false god—Delusion charms

Or enemies incite

To dare invade the British Isles,

Our valour, hope, our tears and smiles,

Shall guard them in the fight!

But may the warlike dream be this:

“A son receive a mother’s kiss,—

A father’s fondness prove,—

The only weapons to engage;

The only conflict to assuage;

The only god—pure Love.”

[58] The accouchement of Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, and the happy birth of a Prince, at Frogmore Lodge, Windsor, at 8.55 p.m., Friday, 8th January, 1864.

[59] Her Majesty the Queen.

[60] Albert. His late Royal Highness The Prince Consort died 14th Dec., 1861.

Christening the Prince.[61]

One circle round our Sun—and o’er—

Is perfected, since forth there stray’d [62]

In youth a fair Princess,

From whom fell liquid drops of love—

Love-crystals of her wedding tour.

Though griev’d, the fair-form’d gentle maid

(Whom God was pleas’d to bless),

With modest courage sweetly strove

And conquer’d it!—Joy helping her.

Those moments sad, Time soon spent out:

Her Edward, yet afar,

Beheld her with bright vision’s eye.

She wiped away the pearly tear,

And tripp’d on deck. Then ’rose a shout

For Denmark’s shooting star—

Resounding thro’ the azure sky!

Silently sped the ship over the sea:

Edward beheld his Bride, happy and free.

England’s store of wealth and fame

Burst forth in one united blaze,

And reel’d in ecstasy—

Love’s civil war of Joy v. Joy!

To-day, around the Font to name—

(As on a courtly group we gaze

In seemly modesty)—

The pretty infant nursling boy,

A family of royal descent

Implore Great God’s especial care,

For this, their lovely child.

* * * * *

O bounteous Lord, who gave him breath!

Behold them reverently bent

Whilst offering up their pray’r

To Thee, Who kindly smiled:—

Defend and succour unto death.

Now in their triple bond, safe from the sea,

Edward beholds them both happy and free.

[61] The reader will please to observe that lines 1st and 5th, 2nd and 6th, 3rd and 7th, &c., have rhythmical terminations.

[62] The author seeks indulgence in using the word “stray’d.”