Alexandra

4 ALEXANDRA NOTES : 1. Translation by Mr A.B. Waulkphast. Alexandra ! Alexandra ! Read ! I will not be a Cassandra. (i.e. a prophetess of evil.) I will write those things which become me : Xenophon (an ancient writer . . . ah ! did you once see Shelley plain ? in his extant mas- terpiece) did no more. Alexandra ! Alexandra ! I will not be a bad Cassandra. (i.e. a seer of future misfortunes.) O spring ! make me a poet (poetess) concerning thee ! Reign ! Live ! Love ! Be fruitful ! Alexandra ! I being unarmed. (Because Mrs Cox is a woman. Cf. Voltaire : “ O che sciagura essere sin cogl . . .”) Reign ! Love ! Be fruitful ! Live ! Out of the citizen desire goes to thee. We will give grateful mutual thanks to God if I shall . . . (I do not know what futuam can mean. (Look up your Latin Dic., though I admit it is an unusual word in this con- nection, and may seem unjustifiable to those who have not seen my cl... O.C. (MS. illegible. Printer))) . . . thee in bed. I will not be a bad Cassandra. (i.e. a prognosticatress of calamity.) Alexan- dra ! Alexandra ! 2. Cancelled passage : verse III. “ Will not some hero, loyal, leal, and true,” (Men fainting cried) “ the accursed chromo take ? ” The nation took the chromo, queen, and you, You took the cake. 3. Clearly refers to the late Duke of Clarence and Avondale. 4. Suggested restoration by Dr Verrall and Brugsch Bey : . . . and made allowance for A first attempt. 5. v. I. . . . his Hoffmann’s violet Aniline eyes.