| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | December 8 | | To Christina of Sweden | | By William Cowper, trans. (1731–1800) |
| | | | From the Latin and Italian poems of Milton |
| Supposed to be written by Cromwell and sent with his picture. Christina was born on Dec. 8, 1626. |
|
|
CHRISTINA, maiden of heroic mien! | |
| Star of the North! of northern stars the queen! | |
| Behold what wrinkles I have earned, and how | |
| The iron casque still chafes my veteran brow, | |
| While, following Fate’s dark footsteps, I fulfil | 5 |
| The dictates of a hardy people’s will. | |
| But softened in thy sight my looks appear, | |
| Not to all queens or kings alike severe. | | | |
|
|
|
