Albert, in thy race we cherish A Nation’s strength that will not perish While England’s sceptered Line True to the King of Kings is found; Like that Wise[430] Ancestor of thine Who threw the Saxon shield o’er Luther’s life, When first, above the yells of bigot strife, The trumpet of the Living Word Assumed a voice of deep portentous sound From gladdened Elbe to startled Tiber heard. CHORUS What shield more sublime E’er was blazoned or sung? And the PRINCE whom we greet From its Hero is sprung. Resound, resound the strain That hails him for our own! Again, again, and yet again; For the Church, the State, the Throne!-- And that Presence fair and bright, Ever blest wherever seen, Who deigns to grace our festal rite, The pride of the Islands, VICTORIA THE QUEEN! [429] This “Ode” was printed and sung at Cambridge on the occasion of the installation of His Royal Highness Prince Albert as Chancellor of the University. It was published in the newspapers of the following day, as “written for the occasion by the Poet Laureate, by royal command.” There is no evidence, however, that Wordsworth wrote a single line of it. Dr. Cradock used to attribute the authorship to the poet’s nephew, the late Bishop of Lincoln. It is much more likely that Edward Quillinan was the author of the whole, although Christopher Wordsworth may have revised it. Mr. Aubrey de Vere wrote to me, November 12, 1893, “It was from Miss Fenwick that I heard that the Laureate poem (_Ode, etc._), was written by Quillinan, at Wordsworth’s request, he having himself wholly failed in a reluctant attempt to write one. If he _had_ written it, I doubt much whether he would ever have admitted it to a place among his works, for he did not hold ‘Laureate Odes’ in honour, and had only taken the Laureateship on the condition that he was to write none. Tennyson made the same condition: which could not, of course, interfere with either poet addressing lines to the Queen, if they felt specially moved from within to do so.” Miss Frances Arnold writes, “Miss Quillinan was my authority for saying that the Cambridge Ode had been written by her father, owing to the deep depression in which Wordsworth then was.”--ED. [430] Frederic the Wise, Elector of Saxony (1847). TO MISS SELLON This sonnet exists, _in Wordsworth’s handwriting_; but it is doubtful whether it was written by him, or not. Possibly Mr. Quillinan wrote it. The place, and the date of composition--given in MS.--are, “Ambleside, 22nd February, 1849.” Miss Sellon was a relation of the late Count Cavour.--ED.