"Goodness was her fall"

Lady Jane Grey was one of the most learned women of her day. She was fluent in eight languages, among these are Latin, Hebrew and Greek. She was a very committed Protestant and her faith was her source of strength throughout her short and tumultuous life. Below is a poem about her by English writer William Hone (1780-1842) which was inscribed beneath a portrait of her. More about this fascinating lady in a future post. :-)

Young, beautiful and learned Jane, intent
On knowledge, fount it peace; her vast acquirement
Of goodness was her fall; she was content
With dulcet pleasures, such as calm retirement
Yields to the wise alone; — her only vice
Was virtue: in obedience to her sire
And lord she died, with them a sacrifice
To their ambition: her own mild desire
Was rather to be happy than be great;
For though at their request, she claimed the crown,
That they through her might rise to rule the state,
Yet the bright diadem and gorgeous throne
She viewed as cares, dimming the dignity
Of her unsullied mind and pur benignity.