THE YOUNG QUEEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2436, 21 November 1900, Page 13

THE YOUNG QUEEN.

The following poem in honour of the 'establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia was published in The Times of October 4 : — '' Some o£ vis may have been unaware to what perfection those uuits have bseii "already matured in the vhgin soil of Australia, but, if there was surprise in any quarter, it was pleasurable surprise, 'ihe whole country felt a thrill of pride as the work of her sons was levealed to her, and revealed to her at a time when the ties between her and them had been newly consecrated by common effoit and by common sacrjfi.ee in a righteous cause.'' — The Times. Her hand was still upon the sword-hilt, tLo spur was still on her heel; She had not cast her harness of grey wardiiited steel. High on her red-splashed charger, beautiful, bold, and browned, Bright-eyed out of the battle the young Queen rode to be crowned. And she came to the old Queen's presence in ■ tae hall of our thousand years, In the' hall of the five free nations that ar6 peers among their peers; Royal she gave the greeting, loyal she bowed the head, Crying " Crown me, my mother " ; and the old Queen stood and taid : "How can I crown tLee further? I know whose standard flies Where the clean surge tabes the Lerawin, oi the notched Kaikouras use; Blood of our foes on thy bridle, and speech of our friends in thy mouth, Hoy/ cau I crown thee further, O Queen oi tiie Southern South? "' Lot the five free nations witness." But the young Queei answered swift, " It shall be crown of the crowning to hold our ciown foi a gift; In the days when our folk were feeble, thy sword made sure ov.x lands ; Wherefore we come in power to beg our crown at thy hand 3.' And the old Queen raised and kissed her, and the jealous circlet prest, Eopec v.'itfi the pearls of northland, and r r <\ vdih. the gold of the west; T '•> her land's own opals, levin-hearted, alive, five-starred cross abrve them for sign oi Giie nations five. So it was done in the presence, in the hall ol our thousand years, In the face of the five free nations that have no peer but their peers ; And the young Queen out of the southland kneeled down at the old Queen's knee, And psked for a- mother's blessing on the excellent years to be. And the old Queen stooped in the &tillne3s, where the jewelled head dropped low — " Daughter no more, but sister, and doubly daughter so; Mother of many princes, and child of the child I bore, What good thirg shall I wish thee (hat I have not wished before? " Shall ]T give the delight in dominion, rash pride of thy setting forth? Nay, we be women together, we jmow what that lust >s worth ; Peace in thy utmost borders, and strength on a road untrod, These are dealt or dirnini&hed at the secret will of God. " I have swayed troublous councils, I am wise in terribie things ; Fathet and son and grandson, I have known. the heait cf the kings. Shall I give thee my sleepless wisdom, or the gift all wisdom above? Aye, we b.e women together, I give thee thy people's love. " Tempered, august, abiding, reluctant of prayers or vows, Eager in face of peril as thine for thy mother's house; God lequite thee, my sisier, through the strenuous -years to be, And make ihy £seople to love thee as thou hast loved me. ' Rudyard Kipling.