ACCESSION.

ONCE I loved, and my heart bowed down,

Subject and slave, for Love was a King;

He sat above with sceptre and crown,

Turning his eyes from my sorrowing.

The laugh of a god on his lips lay light —

His lips victorious that mocked my pain,

And I mourned in the cold and the outer night,

And my tears and my prayers were vain.

Now the old spell is over and done,

Myself I wear the ermine and gold,

My brows are crowned, I ascend the throne,

I have taken the sceptre and orb to hold.

I smile victorious, set far above

The music of voices that moan and pray,

My feet are wet with the tears of love,

And I turn my eyes away.