There were three maidens met on the highway;
The sun was down, the night was late:
And two sang loud with the birds of May,
O the nightingale is merry with its mate.
Said they to the youngest, Why walk you there so still?
The land is dark, the night is late:
O, but the heart in my side is ill,
And the nightingale will languish for its mate.
Said they to the youngest, Of lovers there is store;
The moon mounts up, the night is late:
O, I shall look on man no more,
And the nightingale is dumb without its mate.
Said they to the youngest, Uncross your arms and sing;
The moon mounts high, the night is late:
O my dear lover can hear no thing,
And the nightingale sings only to its mate.
They slew him in revenge, and his true-love was his lure;
The moon is pale, the night is late:
His grave is shallow on the moor;
O the nightingale is dying for its mate.
His blood is on his breast, and the moss-roots at his hair;
The moon is chill, the night is late:
But I will lie beside him there:
O the nightingale is dying for its mate.
(George Meredith)
More Poetry from George Meredith:
George Meredith Poems based on Topics: Love, Man, Night, Birds, Hair, Revenge & Vengeance- A Faith On Trial (George Meredith Poems)
- The Day Of The Daughter Of Hades (George Meredith Poems)
- Alsace-Lorraine (George Meredith Poems)
- The Empty Purse--A Sermon To Our Later Prodigal Son (George Meredith Poems)
- The Shipwreck Of Idomeneus (George Meredith Poems)
- The Nuptials Of Attila (George Meredith Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, Man Poems, Night Poems, Birds Poems, Hair Poems, Revenge & Vengeance PoemsBased on Keywords: true-love, uncross, moss-roots
- Palestine; A Prize Poem, Recited In The Theatre, Oxford (Reginald Heber Poems)
- The Fairy Of The Fountains (Letitia Elizabeth Landon Poems)
- Essay On War (Nathaniel Bloomfield Poems)
- Stanzas In Memory Of The Author Of 'Obermann' (Matthew Arnold Poems)
- The Misanthrope Reclaimed - Act I (George W Sands Poems)