Living
Song VIII
Translated by Jethro Bithell (1911) · From Contemporary Belgian Poetry (1911)
Towards the palace she came--
The sun was scarcely rising--
Towards the palace she came,
The knights all gazed, surmising,
Silent was every dame.
She stopped before the gate--
The sun was scarcely rising--
She stopped before the gate;
They heard the Queen descending,
And the King questioning her.
Where are you wending, where are you wending?
One scarce can see, take care--
Where are you wending, where are you wending?
Does some one wait for you there?
But she made answer not.
She came down towards the Stranger,--
Take care, one scarce can see--
She came down towards the Stranger;
The Stranger kissed the Queen,
No word did either say,
But went straightway.
The King at the gate was weeping;--
Take care, one scarce can see--
The King at the gate was weeping;
They heard the Queen departing,
They heard the leaves down-sweeping.
Cite this poem
MLA
Maeterlinck, Maurice. “Song VIII.” Translated by Jethro Bithell. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/maurice-maeterlinck/22/.
Chicago
Maeterlinck, Maurice. “Song VIII.” Translated by Jethro Bithell. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/maurice-maeterlinck/22/.
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