IGE. 413 
A sturdy yeoman, big with fond desire 
To serve his lord, had fostered in the byre 
A milk-white heifer, which, superbly grown, 
He led with triumph to the monarch’s throne : 
A stately squire, with his well-favoured dame, 
To bring their modest, meek-eyed daughter came ; 
Than whom no maid of summers seventeen 
More fair, and faultless waited on the Queen. 
Of heifer, dove, sweet flower, and maiden fair, 
In pure white contrast to the trim parterre 
Of the quadrangle, as the sunbeams fell, 
Which seemed most spotless it were hard to tell ; 
Therefore, the King, who held a wise intent, 
His gaze on each in turn uncertain bent, 
Then bade them all another week to bide, 
Till New Year’s Day the contest should decide. 
But, as the week pursued its onward course, 
Keen winds brought snow, in fast and constant force, 
So that the kingdom with a mantle white, 
And dazzling, was on New Year’s morning dight. 
And when again the candidates were ranged 
Around the King, each bore an aspect changed 
From former excellence: the lily’s hue 
Was to its pristine splendour scarcely true ; 
The dove’s soft plumage, which so chaste had shown, 
Betrayed a look as if less lustrous grown ; 
Whilst from the snow the fierce reflected gleam 
Made the white heifer saffron-tainted seem : 
Even the clear translucency of face 
Which lately lent the maiden classic grace, 
Disclosed some subtle blemishes to sight 
When tried by such severity of light. 
Then did the monarch hasten to avow 
His sage decision, hidden until now, 
Which, by his heralds, with a trumpet’s blast, 
He thus delivered to the concourse vast. 
* The lily bearer—this is our decree— 
Shall by the State henceforth supported be : 
And for the gentle scholar, with his dove, 
A yearly pension we hereby approve ; 
* The trusty yeoman, with his heart so warm, 
Shall be our Bailiff on the Palace-farm ; _ 
' And the sweet maiden, by her parents’ will, 
ves A post of honour to the Queen shall fill. 
