Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/694

 676 RUDYARD KIPLING'S VERSE

The Queen was in her chamber, a-combing of her hair. There came Queen Mary's spirit and It stood behind her

chair,

Singing " Backward and forward and sideways may you pass, But I will stand behind you till you face the looking-glass. The cruel looking-glass that will never show a lass As lovely or unlucky or as lonely as I was!"

Queen Bess was Harry's daughter. Now turn your partners all!

The Queen was in her chamber, a-weeping very sore, There came Lord Leicester's spirit and It scratched upon the

door,

Singing " Backward and forward and sideways may you pass, But I will walk beside you till you face the looking-glass. The cruel looking-glass that will never show a lass, As hard and unforgiving or as wicked as you was!"

Queen Bess was Harry's daughter. Now kiss your partners all!

The Queen was in her chamber, her sins were on her head. She looked the spirits up and down and statelily she said: "Backward and forward and sideways though I've been, Yet I am Harry's daughter and I am England's Queen!" And she faced the looking-glass (and whatever else there was) And she saw her day was over and she saw her beauty pass In the cruel looking-glass, that can always hurt a lass More hard than any ghost there is or any man there was!

THE QUEEN'S MEN

yALOUR and Innocence

Have latterly gone hence To certain death by certain shame attended.