Part 21 (1/2)

_(A Country Dance)_

_Queen Bess was Harry's daughter. Stand forward partners all!

She danced King Philip down-a down, And left her shoe to show 'twas true-- (The very tune I'm playing you) In Norgem at Brickwall!_

The Queen was in her chamber, and she was middling old, Her petticoat was satin, and her stomacher was gold.

Backwards and forwards and sideways did she pa.s.s, Making up her mind to face the cruel looking-gla.s.s.

The cruel looking-gla.s.s that will never show a la.s.s As comely or as kindly or as young as what she was!

_Queen Bess was Harry's daughter. Now hand your partners all!_ The Queen was in her chamber, a-combing of her hair.

There came Queen Mary's spirit and It stood behind her chair.

Singing, 'Backwards and forwards and sideways may you pa.s.s, But I will stand behind you till you face the looking-gla.s.s.

The cruel looking-gla.s.s that will never show a la.s.s As lovely or unlucky or as lonely as I was!'

_Queen Bess was Harry's daughter.--Now turn your partners all!_ The Queen was in her chamber, a-weeping very sore.

There came Lord Leicester's spirit and It scratched upon the door, Singing, 'Backwards and forwards and sideways may you pa.s.s, But I will walk beside you till you face the looking-gla.s.s.

The cruel looking-gla.s.s that will never show a la.s.s As hard and unforgiving or as wicked as you was!'

_Queen Bess was Harry's daughter. Now kiss your partners all!_

The Queen was in her chamber; her sins were on her head.

She looked the spirits up and down and statelily she said:-- Backwards and forwards and sideways though I've been, Yet I am Harry's daughter and I am England's Queen!'

And she faced the looking-gla.s.s (and whatever else there was), And she saw her day was over and she saw her beauty pa.s.s In the cruel looking-gla.s.s, that can always hurt a la.s.s More hard than any ghost there is or any man there was!

THE QUEEN'S MEN

Valour and Innocence Have latterly gone hence To certain death by certain shame attended.

Envy--ah! even to tears!-- The fortune of their years Which, though so few, yet so divinely ended.

Scarce had they lifted up Life's full and fiery cup, Than they had set it down untouched before them.

Before their day arose They beckoned it to close-- Close in confusion and destruction o'er them.

They did not stay to ask What prize should crown their task, Well sure that prize was such as no man strives for; But pa.s.sed into eclipse, Her kiss upon their lips-- Even Belphoebe's, whom they gave their lives for!

THE CITY OF SLEEP

Over the edge of the purple down, Where the single lamplight gleams.

Know ye the road to the Merciful Town That is hard by the Sea of Dreams-- Where the poor may lay their wrongs away, And the sick may forget to-weep?