THE BEGGAR-MAID

THE BEGGAR-MAID

Herarms across her breast she laid;She was more fair than words can say;Barefooted came the Beggar-maidBefore the King Cophetua.In robe and crown the King stept down,To meet and greet her on her way;“It is no wonder,” said the Lords,“She is more beautiful than day.”As shines the moon in clouded skies,She in her poor attire was seen;One praised her ankles, one her eyes,One her dark hair and lovesome mien.So sweet a face, such angel grace,In all that land had never been.Cophetua sware a royal oath:“This Beggar-maid shall be my Queen!”

Herarms across her breast she laid;She was more fair than words can say;Barefooted came the Beggar-maidBefore the King Cophetua.In robe and crown the King stept down,To meet and greet her on her way;“It is no wonder,” said the Lords,“She is more beautiful than day.”As shines the moon in clouded skies,She in her poor attire was seen;One praised her ankles, one her eyes,One her dark hair and lovesome mien.So sweet a face, such angel grace,In all that land had never been.Cophetua sware a royal oath:“This Beggar-maid shall be my Queen!”

Herarms across her breast she laid;She was more fair than words can say;Barefooted came the Beggar-maidBefore the King Cophetua.

Herarms across her breast she laid;

She was more fair than words can say;

Barefooted came the Beggar-maid

Before the King Cophetua.

In robe and crown the King stept down,To meet and greet her on her way;“It is no wonder,” said the Lords,“She is more beautiful than day.”

In robe and crown the King stept down,

To meet and greet her on her way;

“It is no wonder,” said the Lords,

“She is more beautiful than day.”

As shines the moon in clouded skies,She in her poor attire was seen;One praised her ankles, one her eyes,One her dark hair and lovesome mien.

As shines the moon in clouded skies,

She in her poor attire was seen;

One praised her ankles, one her eyes,

One her dark hair and lovesome mien.

So sweet a face, such angel grace,In all that land had never been.Cophetua sware a royal oath:“This Beggar-maid shall be my Queen!”

So sweet a face, such angel grace,

In all that land had never been.

Cophetua sware a royal oath:

“This Beggar-maid shall be my Queen!”

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

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