well that aught that I could say in my defence doth not appertain
unto you, and that I could draw no hope of life from the same.
But I'come here only to die and thus to yield myself humbly unto
my lord the king. I pray God to save the king and send him
long to reign over you, for a gentler or a more merciful prince
was there never, To me he was ever a good and gentle sovereign
lord. If any person will meddle with my cause, I require them
to judge the best. Thus I take my leave of the world and you,
and I heartily desire you all. to pray for me. ’ ’
Then with her own hands she removed her coif and collar and
covered her hair with a linen cap, saying, “ Alas, poor head, in a
very brief space thou wilt roll in the dust; and as in life thou didst
not merit to wear the crown of a queen so in death thou deservest
not better doom than this. ’ ’
Then she took farewell of her damsels, all of whom were weep
ing. She being the only one composed, and turning to one of her
maids she gave her some mysterious last words to be given to
Lord Percy. Then kneeling down and exclaiming, “O Lord,
have pity on my soul, ’ ’ was her head struck off with one blow of
the Calais sword.
Alas, how sad is the ending; but love triumphed at the last,
and ’ tis better as it is else God had not allowed it in his divine
goodness. That Percy’s weakness, Henry’s passion and Anne’s
death were part of God’s great scheme for England’s future great
ness and America’s freedom cannot be. doubted now. Little did
they realize what it was all for then. Now we see but as through
a glass darkly, then we shall see face to face.
HER VALENTINE.
With a wistful look in her dreamy eyes,
Which borrow their hue from farthest skies,
As the lazy snowflakes whiten the air,
Pensive, I see her standing there.
Like a picture enframed she stands
At the window, and holds in her hands
Some falt’ring verse, which once was mine,—
A timid secret, —her valentine.
Still glows on her face a blush—a smile,
The far-away look in her eyes the while,—
A vision I deem most wondrous fair,
Pensive, I see her standing there.
The Free Lance .
[ February,