4489364Poems — Royal Bridal OdeAnnie Isabel Curwen
Royal Bridal Ode.
I. Shine, O sun, in all thy splendour, Lend the brightness of thy rays To enrich the scene of grandeur, To enhance this day of days. Come in glorious effulgence, Scatter every cloud aside; Come as sign of Heaven's indulgence, Beam on bridegroom and on bride. Come, for all the wide world over, England's sons and daughters, too, Are thinking of the Royal lover Who eagerly awaits for you. Come, the night's dark shadows chasing, Till each cloud has sped away, Come, as seal of Heaven's own blessing, On this Royal bridal day.
II. Ring, O bells, ring out the story, Ring, sweet joy bells, far and near: Tell to youth, and old age hoary, 'Tis the bridal morn of England's heir. Far and wide your gay notes flinging In noisy cities and village dells, Till all the land is filled with the ringing Music of merry wedding bells. Cry, "A truce unto dull care, Let every heart be light and gay; The bridal day of Old England's heir Should be a national holiday."
III. Blow, ye breezes, and proudly wave The myriad flags that float on high, Here comes the bride and bridegroom brave, While the cheers of multitudes rend the sky. She looks so fair in her robes of white, And he so handsome, proud, and gay, That eyes grow dim at thy gallant sight, And women sob, while men hurrah. Cheers give place to murmured prayers, For hearts to their very depths are stirred; Smiling faces are seen through tears, And blessings on every hand are heard. Shine, O sun, more brightly now, Haste, little sunbeams, kiss the bride, Lovingly touch the bridegroom's brow, Radiant now with love and pride. Sound the trumpets, while cannons roar, Flash the glad tidings o'er land and seas, Unto Australia's distant shore, And away to the far Antipodes.
IV. Ring, sweet joy bells, everywhere, Ring out and say the deed is done. And Princess May, the good, the fair, Is wed to England's noble son: Son of the most illustrious line This world of ours has ever seen; Will ever name as brightly shine As India's Empress, England's Queen? And thou, fair bride, of Royal race, Famed for honour and renown, Who so fit as thee to grace England's future Throne and Crown? Ring, O merry wedding bells, And send the tidings far and wide, In cities, towns, and village dells: "God bless the bridegroom and the bride!"
V. If "marriages are made in heaven," That holy place of mysteries, Then God Himself hath sanction given For the joining of these destinies. And He whose wisdom cannot err, Whose skill hath all creation planned, Hath chosen this bride for England's heir, And bound them heart and hand. Chasten'd by the sorrow past, Heart to heart has closer drawn, And the night has gone at last, Ushering in a sweeter dawn.
VI. Shine, O sun, in all thy splendour, Lend the brightness of thy rays To enrich the scene of grandeur, To enhance this "day of days." History shall repeat this story I have sung in simple strain, Saying, "'Twas the crowning glory Of the great Victoria's reign!"
