The Princess: Tears, Idle Tears
The Princess: Tears, Idle Tears
Original Text
Alfred lord Tennyson, The Princess: A Medley (London: E. Moxen, 1847). tenn T366 P756 1847 Fisher Rare Book Library (Toronto). Alfred lord Tennyson, Works (London: Macmillan, 1891). tenn T366 A1 1891a Fisher Rare Book Library (Toronto).
2Tears from the depth of some divine despair
3Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,
4In looking on the happy Autumn-fields,
5And thinking of the days that are no more.
6 Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail,
7That brings our friends up from the underworld,
8Sad as the last which reddens over one
9That sinks with all we love below the verge;
10So sad, so fresh, the days that are no more.
11 Ah, sad and strange as in dark summer dawns
12The earliest pipe of half-awaken'd birds
13To dying ears, when unto dying eyes
14The casement slowly grows a glimmering square;
15So sad, so strange, the days that are no more.
16 Dear as remember'd kisses after death,
17And sweet as those by hopeless fancy feign'd
18On lips that are for others; deep as love,
19Deep as first love, and wild with all regret;
20O Death in Life, the days that are no more!
Notes
1] The Princess: A Medley, published 1847. The first edition contained only four of the lyrics: "Tears, idle tears," "O Swallow Swallow," "Now sleeps the crimson petal," and "Come down, O maid." The rest were added in the edition of 1850. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1847
RPO poem Editors
H. M. McLuhan
RPO Edition
3RP 3.57.
Rhyme