Volume 8 — 1846
Reading edition
“DEIGN, SOVEREIGN MISTRESS! TO ACCEPT A LAY”
In January 1846 Wordsworth sent a copy of his Poems to the Queen, for the Royal Library at Windsor, and inscribed the following lines upon the fly-leaf. For their republication I am indebted to the gracious permission of Her Majesty.—Ed.
Deign, Sovereign Mistress![428] to accept a lay, No Laureate offering of elaborate art; But salutation taking its glad way From deep recesses of a loyal heart. Queen, Wife, and Mother! may All-judging Heaven 5 Shower with a bounteous hand on Thee and Thine Felicity that only can be given On earth to goodness blest by grace divine. Lady! devoutly honoured and beloved Through every realm confided to thy sway; 10 Mayst thou pursue thy course by God approved, And He will teach thy people to obey. As thou art wont, thy sovereignty adorn With woman’s gentleness, yet firm and staid; So shall that earthly crown thy brows have worn 15 Be changed for one whose glory cannot fade. And now, by duty urged, I lay this Book Before thy Majesty, in humble trust That on its simplest pages thou wilt look With a benign indulgence more than just. 20 Nor wilt thou blame an aged Poet’s prayer, That issuing hence may steal into thy mind Some solace under weight of royal care, Or grief—the inheritance of humankind. For know we not that from celestial spheres, 25 When Time was young, an inspiration came (Oh, were it mine!) to hallow saddest tears, And help life onward in its noblest aim. W.W. 9th January 1846.