_Sailor William is dead. And now Toll the great bells disconsolate. Let the maiden have time for tears Ere you set on her gentle brow England's glittering crown of state. Heavy burden for eighteen years. Grant the maiden some weeping space Ere on her youthful brow you place England's crown. Once her stately head it presses, Fifty years it must rest on her tresses Till their brown Turns to white beneath King Time's caresses-- Grant her weeping space._
Set the crown on the maiden's brow, And silence the bells disconsolate. Peal! Ye loud joy-bells, now; Over city and wold let your echoes reverberate. Peal! for the crowning of smiles and the death of tears, Peal! for the crowning of hopes and the death of fears, Peal! for a Queen who shall rule us for fifty years. The maiden is crowned with her glorious crown, Heavy with care; Yet it shall never burden her down Into despair. We will watch over her with our love, And our loyalty prove. We will bear, each, his share Of the worry, grief, and pain That may seek to mar her reign.
Blow! ye silvery bugles, over the sunny land, Our Queen has yielded to love. Ring out with merry clangor, O ye bells! Ye mountains! give the laughing bells reply.
_Hark! how the joyous tumult sinks and swells, And beats against the sky In melody! Mark how the billows of the mighty sea Toss their white arms in glee, And race along the strand, Joining their voices with the symphony! Our Queen has yielded to love. Blow! silvery bugles blow! That all may know._
_Toll! toll! ye deep-mouthed bells, Answer! each thundering gun. Your cadence sadly tells Of a great life-work done. Death rules this changing earth, Through royal halls he stalks, And with an awful mirth Man's noblest efforts mocks. He stills the busy brain, Tears loving souls apart, And leaves alone to reign_
_A Queen with empty heart. Upon her lonely throne She sits, and ever weeps, For him who, once her own, Now wed to heaven sleeps. Albert has fallen, conquered by Death's dart, A shadow lies across her anguished heart. She dwells in loneliness that none can gauge; In grief that only heaven can assuage. She trembles and her soul would fain depart, And beats with tireless wings against its cage. Oh! live for us, dear Queen, Thou who for years hast been Our leader in all good, Live! Live for us, O Queen!_