“Till blessed and blessing,
Power possessing,
From earth to heaven he lifts his soul,”—
a feat which one would like to see put upon canvass by a Pre-Raphaelite.
While the Knights are supposed to be preparing to pass to the hall, the scene takes us to the front of the castle, where crowds of liege and loyal people are assembled. First Citizen, “very like a whale indeed,” sings a comic song, which, as a specimen of the homage offered to monarch and consort, more than fourscore years ago, is worth transcribing—for both its imagery and syntax:—
“Oh, the glorious installation!
Happy nation!
You shall see the King and Queen:
Such a scene!
Valor he, sir;