A Lamentation of Queen Elizabeth

Page 2 of 3

O brittle wealth, aye full of bitterness,

    Thy single pleasure doubled is with pain.

Account my sorrow first and my distress,

    In sundry wise, and reckon there again

   The joy that I have had, and I dare sayn,

       For all my honour, endured yet have I

      More woe than wealth, and lo now here I lie.

Where are our castles now, where are our towers?

   Goodly Richmond, soon art thou gone from me;

At Westminster that costly work of yours,

   Mine own dear lord, now shall I never see.

   Almighty God vouchsafe to grant that ye

       For you and your children well may edify.

       My palace builded is, and lo now here I lie.

Adieu, mine own dear spouse, my worthy lord.

   The faithful love that did us both combine

In marriage and peaceable concord

   Into your hands here I clean resign

   To be bestowed upon your children and mine.

      Erst were you father, and now must ye supply

     The mother’s part also, for lo now here I lie.

Farewell, my daughter lady Margaret.

   God wot full oft it grieved hath my mind

That ye should go where we should seldom meet.

   Now am I gone, and have left you behind.

   O mortal folk, that we be very blind;

      That we least fear, full oft it is most night:

      From you depart I first, and lo now here I lie.

By Tracy L. Havill                                        Click next page to read the rest of the poem