RPO -- Alfred Lord Tennyson : The Princess: Ask me no more

Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)

The Princess: Ask me no more

1Ask me no more: the moon may draw the sea;

2 The cloud may stoop from heaven and take the shape,

3 With fold to fold, of mountain or of cape;

4But O too fond, when have I answer'd thee?

5 Ask me no more.

6Ask me no more: what answer should I give?

7 I love not hollow cheek or faded eye:

8 Yet, O my friend, I will not have thee die!

9Ask me no more, lest I should bid thee live;

10 Ask me no more.

11Ask me no more: thy fate and mine are seal'd:

12 I strove against the stream and all in vain:

13 Let the great river take me to the main:

14No more, dear love, for at a touch I yield;

15 Ask me no more.

Notes

1] The Princess: A Medley, published 1847. This poem was added in the edition of 1850.

Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.

Original text: Alfred lord Tennyson, The Princess: A Medley, 3rd edn. (London: E. Moxen, 1850). tenn T366 P756 1850 Fisher Rare Book Library (Toronto). Alfred lord Tennyson, Works (London: Macmillan, 1891). tenn T366 A1 1891a Fisher Rare Book Library (Toronto).
First publication date: 1850
RPO poem editor: H. M. McLuhan
RP edition: 3RP 3.
Recent editing: 2:2002/2/14

Rhyme: abba

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