By the Sea, and Other Verses

<h2><SPAN name="ELIZABETH_CROWNED" id="ELIZABETH_CROWNED">ELIZABETH CROWNED</SPAN></h2> <div class="blockquot"><p>Elizabeth of Hungary, a widow at the age of twenty, was sought in marriage by Frederick II., Emperor of Germany. She, having taken a vow never to marry again, declined his offer, and devoted her life to deeds of kindness and charity. She died at the age of twenty-four, and was canonized as a saint by Gregory IX. At this ceremony Frederick placed upon her head a golden crown, saying, "Since thou wouldst not be crowned as my Empress, I crown thee to-day as an immortal Queen in the kingdom of God."</p> </div> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">When once I saw thee, fair, yet sad and lone,&mdash;<br/></span> <span class="i2">Tho wealth and beauty waited at thy hand&mdash;<br/></span> <span class="i0">I would have crowned thee, saintly one, mine own;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Glad would have had thee share with me my throne,<br/></span> <span class="i2">Bride of my heart, and Empress of my land!<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">But thou wert wedded to thy valiant dead,<br/></span> <span class="i2">And to the service of a Christ-like love;<br/></span> <span class="i0">So by thy hand the suffering poor were led,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And from thy bounty were the hungry fed,<br/></span> <span class="i2">Till came thy summons to the Court Above.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Now hast thou passed from tears and pain away,<br/></span> <span class="i2">Thine ear hath caught the heavenly melodies;&mdash;<br/></span> <span class="i0">So be it mine, with reverent touch, to-day,<br/></span> <span class="i0">On thy fair head this diadem to lay,<br/></span> <span class="i2">And crown thee Queen immortal for the skies!<br/></span></div> </div> <hr class="chap" /><p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</SPAN></span></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />