Delayed till she had ceased to know－1
Delayed till in its vest of snow
Her loving bosom lay－
An hour behind the fleeting breath－
Later by just an hour than Death－
Oh lagging Yesterday!
Could she have guessed that it would be－7
Could but a crier of the joy
Have climbed the distant hill－
Had not the bliss so slow a pace
Who knows but this surrendered face
Were undefeated still?
Oh if there may departing be 13
Any forgot by Victory
In her imperial round－
Show them this meek appareled thing
That could not stop to be a king－
Doubtful if it be crowned!
Delayed till in its vest of snow
Her loving bosom lay－
An hour behind the fleeting breath－
Later by just an hour than Death－
Oh lagging Yesterday!
Could she have guessed that it would be－7
Could but a crier of the joy
Have climbed the distant hill－
Had not the bliss so slow a pace
Who knows but this surrendered face
Were undefeated still?
Oh if there may departing be 13
Any forgot by Victory
In her imperial round－
Show them this meek appareled thing
That could not stop to be a king－
Doubtful if it be crowned!
(F.67/J.58)
[1–18]:: This poem talks about Cordelia of Shakespeare's King Lear.
[1] Delayed:: Cordelia died due to the delay of Edgar's messanger. ceased to know:: Cordelia died, didn't know they won the battle.
[3] bosom lay:: Lear held Cordelia in his arms.
[11, 12] surrendered face, undefeated:: King Lear.
[14, 15] Victory, round:: Cordelia and Lear died after victory, and courtiers around them.
[17] apparreled, king:: Lear was poorly dressed but still a king.