by Rudyard Kipling (1865 - 1936)
The looking‑glass
Language: English
Queen Bess was Harry’s daughter. Stand forward partners all! In ruff and stomacher and gown She danced King Philip down-a-down, And left her shoe to show ‘twas true – (The very tune I’m playing you) In Norgem at Brickwall! The Queen was in her chamber, and she was middling old. Her petticoat was satin, and her stomacher was gold. Backwards and forwards and sideways did she pass, Making up her mind to face the cruel looking-glass. The cruel looking-glass that will never show a lass As comely or as kindly or as young as what she was! Queen Bess was Harry’s daughter. Now hand your partners all! The Queen was in her chamber, a-combing of her hair. There came Queen Mary’s spirit and It stood behind her char, Singing “Backwards and forwards and sideways may you pass, But I will stand behind you till you face the looking-glass. The cruel looking-glass that will never show a lass As lovely or unlucky or as lonely as I was!” Queen Bess was Harry’s daughter. Now turn your partners all! The Queen was in her chamber, a-weeping very sore. There came Lord Leicester’s spirit and It scratched upon the door, Singing “Backwards and forwards and sideways may you pass, But I will walk beside you till you face the looking-glass. The cruel looking-glass that will never show a lass, As hard and unforgiving or as wicked as you was!” Queen Bess was Harry’s daughter. Now kiss your partners all! The Queen was in her chamber, her sins were on her head. She looked the spirits up and down and statelily she said: - “Backwards and forwards and sideways though I’ve been, Yet I am Harry’s daughter and I am England’s Queen!” And she saw her day was over and she saw her beauty pass In the cruel looking-glass, that can always hurt a lass More hard than any ghost there is or any man there was!
Authorship:
- by Rudyard Kipling (1865 - 1936), "The looking-glass", appears in Rewards and Fairies [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Peter Bellamy (b. 1944), "The looking-glass", published 1971, from Oak, Ash and Thorn, no. 12, London, Robbins Music Corp. [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2016-05-05
Line count: 34
Word count: 323