LADY CLARE

It was the time when lilies blow,

And clouds are highest up in air,

Lord Ronald brought a lily-white doe

To give his cousin, Lady Clare.

I trow they did not part in scorn:

Lovers long-betroth'd were they:

They two will wed the morrow morn;

God's blessing on the day!

'He does not love me for my birth,

Nor for my lands so broad and fair;

He loves me for my own true worth,

And that is well,' said Lady Clare.

There came old Alice the nurse,

Said, 'Who was this that went from thee?'

'It was my cousin, 'said Lady Clare;

'To-morrow he weds with me.'

'O God be thank'd!' said Alice the nurse,

'That all comes round so just and fair:

Lord Ronald is heir of all your lands,

And you are not the Lady Clare.'

'Are ye out of your mind, my nurse, my nurse,'

Said Lady Clare, 'that ye speak so wild?'

'As God's above,' said Alice the nurse,

'I speak the truth: you are my child.

'The old Earl's daughter died at my breast;

I speak the truth, as I live by bread

I buried her like my own sweet child,

And put my child in her stead.'

'Falsely, falsely have ye done,

O mother,' she said, 'if this be true,

To keep the best man under the sun

So many years from his due.'

'Nay now, my child,' said Alice the nurse,

'But keep the secret for your life,

And all you have will be Lord Ronald's.

When you are man and wife.'

'If I'm a beggar born,' she said,

'I will speak out, for I dare not lie.

Pull off, pull off the brooch of gold,

And fling the diamond necklace by.'

'Nay now, my child,' said Alice the nurse,

'But keep the secret all ye can.'

She said, 'Not so: but I will know

If there be any faith in man.'

'Nay now, what faith?' said Alice the nurse.

'The man will cleave unto his right.'

'And he shall have it,' the lady replied,

'Tho' I should die to-night.'

'Yet give one kiss to your mother dear!

Alas, my child! I sinn'd for thee.'

'O mother, mother, mother,' she said,

'So strange it seems to me.

'Yet here's a kiss for my mother dear,

My mother dear, if this be so;

And lay your hand upon my head,

And bless me, mother, ere I go.'

She clad herself in a russet gown,

She was no longer Lady Clare:

She went by dale, and she went by down,

With a single rose in her hair.

The lily-white doe Lord Ronald had brought

Leapt up from where she lay,

Dropt her head in the maiden's hand,

And follow'd her all the way.

Down stept Lord Ronald from his tower:

'O Lady Clare, you shame your worth!

Why come you drest like a village maid,

That are the flower of the earth?'

If I come drest like a village maid,

I am but as my fortunates are:

I am a beggar born,' she said.

'And not the Lady Clare.'

'Play me no tricks,' said Lord Ronald,

'For I am yours in word and in deed.

Play me no tricks,' said Lord Ronald,

'Your riddle is hard to read.'

O and proudly stood she up!

Her heart within her did not fail:

She look'd into Lord Ronald's eyes,

And told him all her nurse's tale.

He laugh'd a laugh of merry scorn:

He turn'd and kiss'd her where she stood:

'If you are not the heiress born,

And I, 'said he, 'the next in blood -

'If you are not the heiress born,

And I,' said he, 'the lawful heir,

We two will wed to-morrow morn,

And you shall still be Lady Clare.'

LORD TENNYSON

Summary: 'Lady Clare' by Lord Tennyson is a narrative poem that unfolds a tale of mistaken identity and reveals the power of love and truth. The poem begins with Lord Ronald presenting a lily-white doe to his cousin, Lady Clare, during a time when lilies bloom and clouds grace the sky. The atmosphere is one of joy and anticipation as the two lovers, long-betrothed, plan to wed the following day.

However, the joy takes an unexpected turn when old Alice, the nurse, interjects. She questions Lady Clare about Lord Ronald's departure, expressing relief that the lands will now rightfully pass to him as Lady Clare is not the true heiress. Shocked and confused, Lady Clare insists that she is indeed the Earl's daughter. Alice, however, reveals a shocking truth - the Earl's daughter died, and Lady Clare is not the biological child but was raised in her place.

In a mix of disbelief and determination, Lady Clare decides to uncover the truth. She challenges Alice to remove her gold brooch and fling away her diamond necklace, symbolizing her willingness to forsake her privileged position. Lady Clare expresses her resolve to know the truth and declares that even if she is a beggar-born, she will speak the truth.

The poem takes a dramatic turn as Lady Clare discards her noble attire, dons a simple russet gown, and transforms into a village maiden. She walks away, carrying a single rose in her hair. The lily-white doe, previously a gift from Lord Ronald, follows her faithfully.

Lord Ronald, puzzled by Lady Clare's transformation, confronts her about the apparent deception. In response, Lady Clare fearlessly confesses the nurse's revelation. Lord Ronald, instead of being angered or disillusioned, laughs with merry scorn. He turns and kisses Lady Clare, declaring that even if she is not the heiress by birth, they will wed the next morning, and she shall still be Lady Clare.

The poem concludes on a note of triumph and love, emphasizing the resilience of true affection and the ability to overcome societal expectations and misunderstandings. The power of honesty and the acceptance of each other's true selves triumph over the constraints of birthright and social status.