A Mien to move a Queen－1
Half Child－Half Heroine－
An Orleans in the Eye
That puts its manner by
For humbler Company 5
When none are near
Even a Tear－
Its frequent Visitor－
A Bonnet like a Duke－9
And yet a Wren's Peruke
Were not so shy
Of Goer by－
And Hands－so slight－13
They would elate a Sprite
With Merriment－
A Voice that Alters－Low 16
And on the Ear can go
Like Let of Snow－
Or shift supreme－
As tone of Realm
On Subjects Diadem－
Too small－to fear－22
Too distant－to endear－
And so Men Compromise
And just－revere－
Half Child－Half Heroine－
An Orleans in the Eye
That puts its manner by
For humbler Company 5
When none are near
Even a Tear－
Its frequent Visitor－
A Bonnet like a Duke－9
And yet a Wren's Peruke
Were not so shy
Of Goer by－
And Hands－so slight－13
They would elate a Sprite
With Merriment－
A Voice that Alters－Low 16
And on the Ear can go
Like Let of Snow－
Or shift supreme－
As tone of Realm
On Subjects Diadem－
Too small－to fear－22
Too distant－to endear－
And so Men Compromise
And just－revere－
(F.254/J.283)
[1–25]:: This poem describes Imogen in Shakespeare's Cymbeline.
[1] to move a Queen:: Cymbeline's Queen disliked Imogen.
[2] Child:: Imogen was described as "No elder than a Boy."
[3] An Orleans:: the Maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc. in the eye:: Imogen has the eye of the Maid of Orleans.
[7, 8] Tear, frequent:: Imogen's husband Posthumus was banished by Cymbeline.
[9–15] Imogen disguised herself as a boy to seek Posthumus.
[17–20] Imogen was singing "Angel-like."
[24] Men:: Imogen's two brothers, Guiderius and Arviragus.