Farewell to France

By Mary Queen of Scots (1542–1587)

Arrival of the Queen in Scotland, August 21, 1561.

FAREWELL, beloved France to thee,

Best native land!

The cherished strand

That nursed my tender infancy!

Farewell, my childhood’s happy day!

The bark that bears me thus away

Bears but the poorer moiety hence;

The nobler half remains with thee,—

I leave it to thy confidence,

But to remind thee still of me!