Classic Poem

Sir Henry L EE resigns his place of honour at tilt to the E ARL OF C UMBERLAND .

And now, as first by him intended was,
In sight of prince, and peers, and people round,
Old Henry Lee, Knight of the Crown, dismounts;
And in a fair pavilion hard at hand,
Where holy lights burn'd on the hallow'd shrine
To Virtue or to Vesta consecrate,
Having unarm'd his body, head and all,
To his great mistress his petition makes;
That, in regard and favour of his age,
It would so please her princely majesty
To suffer him give up his staff and arms,
And honourable place wherein he served,
To that thrice-valiant earl whose honour's pledge
His life should be. With that he singled forth
The flower of English knights, the valiant Earl
Of Cumberland; and him, before them all,
He humbly prays her highness to accept,
And him install in place of those designs;
And to him gives his armour and his lance,
Protesting to her princely majesty,
In sight of heaven and all her lovely lords,
He would betake him to his orisons,
And spend the remnant of his waning age,
Unfit for wars and martial exploits,
In prayers for her endless happiness.
Whereat she smiles, and sighs, and seem'd to say,
" Good woodman, though thy green be turn'd to grey,
Thy age past April's prime and pleasant May,
Have thy request; we take him at thy praise:
May he succeed the honour of thy days! "
" Amen, " said all, and hope they do no less;
No less his virtue and nobility,
His skill in arms and practice promiseth.
And many champions such may England live to have,
And days and years as many such as she in heart can crave!