num_pages: 108
description: The Princess is a serio-comic blank verse narrative poem, written by Alfred Tennyson, published in 1847. The poem tells the story of an heroic princess who forswears the world of men and founds a women's university where men are forbidden to enter. The prince to whom she was betrothed in infancy enters the university with two friends, disguised as women students. They are discovered and flee, but eventually they fight a battle for the princess's hand. They lose and are wounded, but the women nurse the men back to health. Eventually the princess returns the prince's love.Excerpt from The PrincessSir Walter Vivian all a summer's dayGave his broad lawns until the set of sunUp to the people; thither flock'd at noonHis tenants, wife and child, and thither halfThe neighboring borough with their Institute,Of which he was the patron. I was thereFrom college, visiting the son, -the sonA Walter too, -with others of our set,Five we were seven at Vivian-place.And me that morning Walter show'd the house,Greek, set with busts. From vases in the hallFlowers of all heavens, and lovelier than their names,Grew side by side; and on the pavement layCarved stones of the Abbey-ruin in the park,Huge Ammonites, and the first bones ofAnd on the tables every clime and ageJumbled together; celts and calumets,Claymore and snow-shoe, toys in lava, fansOf sandal, amber, ancient rosaries,Laborious orient ivory sphere in sphere,The cursed Malayan crease, and battle-clubsFrom the isles of palm; and higher on the walls,Betwixt the monstrous horns of elk and deer,His own forefathers' arms and armor hung.And 'this, ' he said, 'was Hugh's at Agin-court;And that was old Sir Ralph's at Ascalon.A good knight he! we keep a chronicleWith all about him, '-which he brought, and IDived in a hoard of tales that dealt with knightsHalf-legend, half-historic, counts and kingsWho laid about them at their wills and died;And mixt with these a lady, one that arm'dHer own fair head, and sallying thro' the gate,Had beat her foes with slaughter from her walls.
language: English
title: The Princess
titlecomplete: The Princess
genres: Fantasy, Comedy, Poetry, 19th Century, Classics, Historical Fiction, Fiction, British Literature
ratings_count: 187
publisher: Echo Library