ALEXANDRA 
 
 
 
 
 
ALEXANDRA 
 
I. 
The sixty summers that have rolled away  
Since first thy fame by bard and sage was sung  
Leave thee to England and to us to-day  
Still fair and young. 
 
II. 
I saw thee limned in all the robes and pearls,  
Diamonds and ermine that proclaim thee queen : 
Thou wast (or I know nothing about girls)  
Barely eighteen.2 
 
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VII. 
Thy royal Edward’s undivided love  
Hath been thy lifelong privilege, ’tis true !  
Still, is he not, though us so far above,  
Our Edward too ? 
 
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XII. 
Why did the heathen Hindoo’s loyal roar 
Acclaim that dream brighter than bard e’er dreamt ?3 
He worshipped thee4 . . . 
 
XIII. 
’Twas not thy George’s viking frame that set 
Australia cheering :  but their souls surprise 
The God within his magian deeply-set  
Mysterious eyes.5