What a beautiful speech.
Thank you for this, I was not aware of it before.
________________________________
From: weeklong-l-bounces(a)lists.wikimedia.org
To: weeklong-l
Sent: Mon May 24 08:48:52 2010
Subject: [Weeklong-l] Possibly too late submission -- Queen Elizabeth's
contributions
These two pieces have always struck me as somehow belonging together, like two points
through which one can draw the straight line of a character.
--Mike
Elizabeth's speech to the troops at Tilbury:
My loving people,
We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we
commit our selves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not
desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear, I have always
so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the
loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you
see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and
heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my
kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body
but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king
of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should
dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by
me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of
every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness you have
deserved rewards and crowns; and We do assure you in the word of a prince, they shall be
duly paid you. In the mean time, my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom
never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience
to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly
have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.
Elizabeth's sonnet: On Monsieur's Departure
I grieve and dare not show my discontent,
I love and yet am forced to seem to hate,
I do, yet dare not say I ever meant,
I seem stark mute but inwardly do prate.
I am and not, I freeze and yet am burned,
Since from myself another self I turned.
My care is like my shadow in the sun,
Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it,
Stands and lies by me, doth what I have done.
His too familiar care doth make me rue it.
No means I find to rid him from my breast,
Till by the end of things it be supprest.
Some gentler passion slide into my mind,
For I am soft and made of melting snow;
Or be more cruel, love, and so be kind.
Let me or float or sink, be high or low.
Or let me live with some more sweet content,
Or die and so forget what love ere meant.