A peaceful place it was but now, And lo! within its shining streets. A multitude, of nations meets: A countless throng, I see beneath the crystal bow, And Gaul and German, Russ and Turk, Each with his native handiwork, And busy tongue. I felt a thrill of love and awe To mark the different garb of each, The changing tongue, the various speech Together blent. A thrill, methinks like His who saw "All people dwelling upon earth Praising our God with solemn mirth And one consent." High Sovereign in your Royal state! Captains and Chiefs and Councillors, Before the lofty palace doors Are open set. Hush! ere you pass the shining gate; Hush! ere the heaving curtain draws, And let the Royal pageant pause A moment yet. People and Prince, a silence keep! Bow coronet and kindly crown, Helmet and plume bow lowly down; The while the priest Before the splendid portal step, While still the wondrous banquet stays, From Heaven supreme a blessing prays Upon the feast! Then onwards let the triumph march; Then let the loud artillery roll, And trumpets ring and joy-bells toll, And pass the gate; Pass underneath the shining arch, 'Neath which the leafy elms are green-- Ascend unto your throne, O Queen, And take your State! Behold her in her Royal place: A gentle lady--and the hand That sways the sceptre of this land How frail and weak! Soft is the voice, and fair the face; She breathes amen to prayer and hymn, No wonder that her eyes are dim, And pale her cheek. This moment round her empire's shores The winds of Austral winter sweep, And thousands lie in midnight sleep At rest to-day. O! awful is that crown of yours, Queen of innumerable realms, Sitting beneath the budding elms Of English May! A wondrous sceptre 'tis to bear, Strange mystery of God which set Upon her brow yon coronet,-- The foremost crown Of all the world on one so fair! That chose her to it from her birth, And bade the sons of all the earth To her bow down. The representatives of man, Here from the far Antipodes, And from the subject Indian seas, In Congress meet; From Afric and from Hindostan, From Western continent and isle, The envoys of her empire pile Gifts at her feet.