Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | | | VI. Human Experience | | The Foolish Virgins | | Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892) |
| | From “Idyls of the King: Guinevere”
THE QUEEN looked up, and said, | |
| “O maiden, if indeed you list to sing, | |
| Sing, and unbind my heart, that I may weep.” | |
| Whereat full willingly sang the little maid: | |
| |
| “Late, late, so late! and dark the night and chill! | 5 |
| Late, late, so late! but we can enter still. | |
| Too late, too late! Ye cannot enter now. | |
| |
| “No light had we: for that we do repent; | |
| And learning this, the bridegroom will relent. | |
| Too late, too late! Ye cannot enter now. | 10 |
| |
| “No light; so late! and dark and chill the night! | |
| O, let us in, that we may find the light! | |
| Too late, too late! Ye cannot enter now. | |
| |
| “Have we not heard the bridegroom is so sweet? | |
| O, let us in, though late, to kiss his feet! | 15 |
| No, no, too late! Ye cannot enter now.” | |
| |
| So sang the novice, while full passionately, | |
| Her head upon her hands, wept the sad Queen. | | | | |
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