A Welcome to Prince Albert

He comes ! a Conqueror ! with the soft control
Mightier than warrior's sword in monarch's hand ;
He comes ! to claim the Lady of his soul —
A fearless knight from the old German land !

A voice of welcome from a thousand hills !
The sound of love in earth and air and sea !
A nation's heart, thy name, Prince Albert ! fills
With prayer and blessing for thy Bride and thee !

Thou comest to link thee with a lofty soil,
A land of graceful dames and stately men :
Be proud ! on thee will England's Daughter smile,
And thou on England's Queen look love again.

What haughty dreams thy gathering visions yield !
'Tis thine the awful couch of kings to share ;
The hope of many a land thine arm must shield,
The Beauty of our Isles shall slumber there !

Bring princes in thy breast across the brine !
Lo, round the chaste form of thy noble mate
The future spirits of a shadowy line,
The souls of kings unborn, in silence wait !

Forget thy father-land ! Thou hast no more
Another city, hearth, or native home :
This is thy country, this thy natural shore,
Thine eagle-nest amid the ocean-foam.

Come ! at an English altar proudly stand —
Take, from our ancient priest, thy chosen bride !
Breathe, in the language of thy Lady's land,
The eternal vows— the pledge of love and pride !

Rejoice, O Prince ! her Fathers' Faith is thine,
One worship and one creed ye twain will share ;
How many a solemn arch and cloistered shrine
Shall hail your blended names in English prayer !

Love well our clime ! the scenery of thy choice,
Thy Lady's isle — the pride of earth and sea ;
Her fanes will greet thee with their holiest voice,
Her towers among the trees shall thrill for thee !

'Tis not the troth of state— the plighted hands
Where passion shudders at the feet of pride ;
No selfish bridegroom at yon altar stands,
Nor glitters there a cold and reckless bride !

Joy to that fane ! the noble and the fair
Are met to blend the tones of love and truth.
Joy to that fane ! an English lady there
Binds to her soul the husband of her youth.

He comes, as came the mighty hearts of old,
The men of bounding steed and belted brand ;
That which his vows have won his arm shall hold —
A fearless knight from the old German land !

The voice of welcome, Prince ! I wake once more,—
Far from the glare of courts, from cities free,
A lowly name, on Cornwall's rocky shore,
I breathe this blessing for thy Bride and thee !