E-Text

Tennyson's Poems

The Arrival


(No alteration after 1853.)


1


All precious things, discover'd late,

To those that seek them issue forth;

For love in sequel works with fate,

And draws the veil from hidden worth.

He travels far from other skies

His mantle glitters on the rocks--

A fairy Prince, with joyful eyes,

And lighter footed than the fox.


2


The bodies and the bones of those

That strove in other days to pass,

Are wither'd in the thorny close,

Or scatter'd blanching on [1] the grass.

He gazes on the silent dead:

"They perish'd in their daring deeds."

This proverb flashes thro' his head,

"The many fail: the one succeeds".


3


He comes, scarce knowing what he seeks:

He breaks the hedge: he enters there:

The colour flies into his cheeks:

He trusts to light on something fair;

For all his life the charm did talk

About his path, and hover near

With words of promise in his walk,

And whisper'd voices at his ear. [2]


4


More close and close his footsteps wind;

The Magic Music [3] in his heart

Beats quick and quicker, till he find

The quiet chamber far apart.

His spirit flutters like a lark,

He stoops--to kiss her--on his knee.

"Love, if thy tresses be so dark,

How dark those hidden eyes must be!


[Footnote 1: 1842 to 1851. In.]


[Footnote 2: All editions up to and including 1850. In his ear.]


[Footnote 3: All editions up to and including 1851. Not capitals in] magic music.

Cite this page