The Regret Of The Ranee In The Hall Of Peacocks

A poem by Violet Nicolson, Lawrence Hope, Adela Florence Cory Nicolson (1865 – 1904)

This man has taken my Husband’s life

And laid my Brethren low,

No sister indeed, were I, no wife,

To pardon and let him go.

Yet why does he look so young and slim

As he weak and wounded lies?

How hard for me to be harsh to him

With his soft, appealing eyes.

His hair is ruffled upon the stone

And the slender wrists are bound,

So young! and yet he has overthrown

His scores on the battle ground.

Would I were only a slave to-day,

To whom it were right and meet

To wash the stains of the War away,

The dust from the weary feet.

Were I but one of my serving girls

To solace his pain to rest!

Shake out the sand from the soft loose curls,

And hold him against my breast!

Have we such beauty around our Throne?

Such lithe and delicate strength?

Would God that I were the senseless stone

To support his slender length!

I hate those wounds that trouble my sight,

Unknown! how I wish you lay,

Alone in my silken tent to-night

While I charmed the pain away.

I would lay you down on the Royal bed,

I would bathe your wounds with wine,

And setting your feet against my head

Dream you were lover of mine.

My Crown is heavy upon my hair,

The Jewels weigh on my breast,

All I would leave, with delight, to share

Your pale and passionate rest!

But hands grow restless about their swords,

Lips murmur below their breath,

“The Queen is silent too long!” “My Lords,

–Take him away to death!”

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Poems in English 

• Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 132: Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 131: Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou art by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 130: My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 12: When I do count the clock that tells the time by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 129: Th’ expense of spirit in a waste of shame by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• The Eolian Harp by Samuel Taylor Coleridge by Fledermaus
• Sonnet 32: If thou survive my well-contented day by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 31: Thy bosom is endearèd with all hearts by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 30: When to the sessions of sweet silent thought by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 2: When forty winters shall besiege thy brow by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 29: When in disgrace with Fortune and men’s eyes by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 28: How can I then return in happy plight by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 27: Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 26: Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 25: Let those who are in favour with their stars by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 24: Mine eye hath played the painter and hath stelled by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 23: As an unperfect actor on the stage by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 22: My glass shall not persuade me I am old by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
• Sonnet 21: So is it not with me as with that muse by William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare

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