ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS
XV. ARCHBISHOP CHICHELY TO HENRY V
ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS
“WHAT beast in wilderness or cultured field “The lively beauty of the leopard shows? “What flower in meadow-ground or garden grows “That to the towering lily doth not yield? “Let both meet only on thy royal shield! “Go forth, great King! claim what thy birth bestows; “Conquer the Gallic lily which thy foes “Dare to usurp;–thou hast a sword to wield, “And Heaven will crown the right.”–The mitred Sire Thus spake–and lo! a Fleet, for Gaul addrest, 10 Ploughs her bold course across the wondering seas; For, sooth to say, ambition, in the breast Of youthful heroes, is no sullen fire, But one that leaps to meet the fanning breeze.