Classic Poem

“B LISSFUL ,” quoth I, “may this be so?
Speak I amiss, be not displeased.
Art thou the Queen of heavens blue,
whom all this world must honour now?
We believe in Mary, from whom sprang grace,
who bore a child from virgin flower,
and who can take from her the crown,
save she excel her in some worth?
And for her peerlessness of charm
Phœnix of Araby we her call,
the bird immaculate of form,
like to that Queen of Courtesy.”