| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | November 14 | | Nell Gwynn | | By Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909) |
| | | | A famous actress who became the mistress of Charles II. Her son was made Duke of St. Albans. She died Nov. 13, 1687. |
|
|
SWEET heart, that no taint of the throne or the stage | |
| Could touch with unclean transformation, or alter | |
| To the likeness of courtiers whose consciences falter | |
| At the smile or the frown, at the mirth or the rage, | |
| Of a master whom chance could inflame or assuage, | 5 |
| Our Lady of Laughter, invoked in no psalter, | |
| Adored of no faithful that cringe and that palter, | |
| Praise be with thee yet from a hag-ridden age. | |
| |
| Our Lady of Pity thou wast: and to thee | |
| All England, whose sons are the sons of the sea, | 10 |
| Gives thanks, and will hear not if history snarls | |
| When the name of the friend of her sailors is spoken: | |
| And thy lover she cannot but love—by the token | |
| That thy name was the last on the lips of King Charles. | | | |
|
|
|
