LAUREATE’S WEDDING GIFT

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25346, 20 November 1947, Page 3

LAUREATE’S WEDDING GIFT

The wedding gift to Princess Elizabeth from Mr John Masefield, the Poet Laureate, a poem bound in white vellum, contains, in the first leaf of the slim volume, a loose sheet of plain notepaper penned and signed by Mr Masefield. On it is written: “Offered to Her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth, on the occasion of her marriage, by John Masefield, October, 1947. On the fly-leaf is engrossed in black, colours and gold leaf: “On the Coming Marriage of Her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth. Overleaf in the book is the poem, which is as follows: What is the Crown but something set above The jangle and the jargon and the hate Of strivers after power in the State, A symbol, like a banner, for men’s love? When hope is dim and luck is out of joint, When enemies within, without, assail, Where a Crown shines, the courage cannot fail, There a land’s spirit finds a rallying point. To those young lands, the countries of our kin, The friends in need, the comrades in despair; Our allies steadfast when no others Were ... . . . But how can Britain praise them? How begin? . . . To those dear lands still calling Britain “Home,” The Crown is still the link with Britain s past, The consecrated thing that must outlast Folly and hate and other human foam. To those, as to ourselves, this marriage time Summons all hearts from their accustomed ways To pray that hidden strengths, supreme, sublime, May from their glory bless this couple’s days. To pray, that She, our future Queen, may hear Through many happy years, the bells rejoice, Telling of People glad, a Sovereign dear, A Land restored, a Purpose again clear, With wind-delighting clamour of glad voice.