“Her court was pure; her life serene; God gave her peace; her land reposed; A thousand claims to reverence closed In her as Mother, Wife and Queen; “And statesmen at her council met Who knew the seasons, when to take Occasion by the hand, and make The bounds of freedom wider yet[6] “By shaping some august decree, Which kept her throne unshaken still, Broad-based upon her people’s will,[7] And compass’d by the inviolate sea.” MARCH, 1851. [1] 1851. Revered Victoria, you that hold. [2] 1851. I thank you that your Royal grace. [3] This stanza added in 1853. [4] 1851. Your sweetness. [5] In 1851 the following stanza referring to the first Crystal Palace, opened 1st May, 1851, was inserted here:— She brought a vast design to pass, When Europe and the scatter’d ends Of our fierce world were mixt as friends And brethren, in her halls of glass. [6] 1851. Broader yet. [7] With this cf. Shelley, _Ode to Liberty_:— Athens diviner yet Gleam’d with its crest of columns _on the will_ Of man. Claribel a melody First published in 1830. In 1830 and in 1842 edd. the poem is in one long stanza, with a full stop in 1830 ed. after line 8; 1842 ed. omits the full stop. The name “Claribel” may have been suggested by Spenser (_F. Q._, ii., iv., or Shakespeare, _Tempest_). 1 Where Claribel low-lieth The breezes pause and die, Letting the rose-leaves fall: But the solemn oak-tree sigheth, Thick-leaved, ambrosial, With an ancient melody Of an inward agony, Where Claribel low-lieth. 2 At eve the beetle boometh Athwart the thicket lone: At noon the wild bee[1] hummeth About the moss’d headstone: At midnight the moon cometh, And looketh down alone. Her song the lintwhite swelleth, The clear-voiced mavis dwelleth, The callow throstle[2] lispeth, The slumbrous wave outwelleth, The babbling runnel crispeth, The hollow grot replieth Where Claribel low-lieth. [1] 1830. “Wild” omitted, and “low” inserted with a hyphen before “hummeth”. [2] 1851 and all previous editions, “fledgling” for “callow”. Lilian First printed in 1830. 1 Airy, fairy Lilian, Flitting, fairy Lilian, When I ask her if she love me, Claps her tiny hands above me, Laughing all she can; She’ll not tell me if she love me, Cruel little Lilian. 2 When my passion seeks Pleasance in love-sighs She, looking thro’ and thro’[1] me Thoroughly to undo me, Smiling, never speaks: So innocent-arch, so cunning-simple, From beneath her gather’d wimple[2] Glancing with black-beaded eyes, Till the lightning laughters dimple The baby-roses in her cheeks; Then away she flies. 3 Prythee weep, May Lilian! Gaiety without eclipse Wearieth me, May Lilian: Thro’[3] my very heart it thrilleth When from crimson-threaded[4] lips Silver-treble laughter[5] trilleth: Prythee weep, May Lilian. 4 Praying all I can, If prayers will not hush thee, Airy Lilian, Like a rose-leaf I will crush thee, Fairy Lilian. [1] 1830. Through and through me. [2] 1830. Purfled.