I spoke. Th' attendant lords, with zealous care, And costly art my princely train prepare;

Soon in her port my gallant vessel rode,
And soon receiv'd with joy her precious load.
And soon my beauteous Queen was wafted o'er
From Gallia's coast to England's happier shore.

When bright in all her charms my Margaret came,
Faction was hush'd, and Pride forgot to blame,
Thy beauty was the theme of every tongue,

Was prais'd by grave and gay, by old and young; 220
That winning air, that heavenly smile, disarms
E'en Envy's self, enamor❜d of thy charms;
She dwells in rapture on thy faultless face,
Majestic mien, and more than mortal grace.

How did thy charms thy Suffolk's bosom move! How deeply did he drink the draught of Love! For not the crown that bound thy beauteous brow Woke my warm wish, or drew the venal vow: σ I scorn'd the pageant toys, for, bless'd with thee, Ah, what were sceptres, what were crowns to me !234 Nor gorgeous crowns, nor regal sceptres move; 5 I listen'd only to the voice of Love.

But now, alas! far other thoughts arise, Far other scenes distract my closing eyes!

For, ah! the ruthless ruffian chides my stay,
And envious Death denies this short delay;
Denies me longer on the theme to dwell :-
:-

More lov'd than life, my beauteous Queen, farewell!

LET these soft lines my kindest thoughts convey,
And tell thee what I suffer by thy stay.
Did seas divide us, this might well excuse
Thy negligence, and my fond heart abuse.
But Calais from the Kentish strand is seen;
A gentle current only rolls between.
Nor needs my Suffolk, like Leander, brave
A present death in every breaking wave,
When, guided only by a glimmering light,
He cross'd the stormy Hellespont by night. 10
Tall ships, with flying sails and laboring oars, σ
Attend to land thee on the Gallic shores.
But thou art chang'd-that ardor is expir'd,
Which once thy wishes with impatience fir'd;
When Savoy's blooming duchess strove in vain
From me the conquest of thy heart to gain :

Invited by great Henry's martial fame,

20

The haughty princess, with her brother, came
To compliment the King for Tournay gain'd;
Where, in a rich pavilion entertain’d,
Thy noble form th' unguarded Fair surpriz'd;
Nor were her tender wishes long disguis'd:
Whatever Flattery, Love, or wanton Art,
Could do, she practis'd to seduce thy heart.
Great Antony, by such allurements gain'd,
For Cleopatra all his glory stain'd:
But thy firm faith no injury receiv'd;
For you still lov'd, or I was well deceiv'd:
Nor were my virgin vows less true to thee,
When young Castile address'd the court for me, Bo
The charms of proffer'd empire I resign'd;
Brandon was more than empire to my mind:
While, without rivals, in thy breast I reign'd,
My thoughts the pageantry of power disdain'd.
But, ah! what changes human joys attend!
On fickle turns our brightest hopes depend.
Victorious Henry's arms still meet success;
The vanquish'd Gauls at last propose a peace.
By Wolsey's policy their terms succeed;
The long contending nations are agreed ; 40
And I the public victim am decreed.

Condemn'd to share the Christian Monarch's bed,
And curs'd with that magnificence I fled.

I knew my rank no private choice allow'd,
And what a Princess to her country ow'd.

These splendid maxims should have sway'd my breast,

But Love entirely had my soul possess❜d.
How oft I wish'd my kinder destiny

Had sunk the Queen in some obscure degree;

While, crown'd by rural maids with painted flowers,
I rang'd the fields, and slept in verdant bowers;
Belov'd of some young swain, with Brandon's face,
His voice, his gesture, and his blooming grace,
In all but birth and state resembling thee!
Then unmolested we had liv'd, and free

From all the curst restraints which greatness brings; While grots, the meads, the shades, and purling springs,

The flowery valley, and the gloomy grove,
Had heard of no superior name to Love.
Such scenes of this inglorious life I drew, b
And half believ'd the charming fiction true,
Till real ills dissolv'd the pleasing dreams,

The groves and vallies fled, the lawns and silver

streams.

The gay fantastic paradise I mourn'd;

While courts and factions, crowns and cares, return'd.

With sighs I still recall the fatal day,

When no pretence could gain a longer stay.
The lovely Queen my parting sorrow saw,
Nor Henry's presence kept my grief in awe.
No rules of decent custom could control,
Or hide the wide disorder of my soul,

When shipp'd for France before the dancing wind
The navy fled and left my hopes behind.