Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
France: Vols. IX–X. 1876–79.

Introductory

Queen Mary’s Farewell

By Mary Queen of Scots (1542–1587)

Anonymous translation

FAREWELL, beloved France, to thee,

Best native land!

The cherished strand

That nursed my tender infancy!

Farewell, my childhood’s happy day!

The bark that bears me thus away

Bears but the poorer moiety hence;

The nobler half remains with thee,—

I leave it to thy confidence,

But to remind thee still of me!