“TOO LATE! TOO LATE! YE CANNOT ENTER NOW.”
“Too Late” is a thrilling fragment or side-song of Alfred Tennyson's, representing the vain plea of the five Foolish Virgins. Its tune bears the name of a London lady, “Miss Lindsay” (afterwards Mrs. J. Worthington Bliss). The arrangement of air, duo and quartet is very impressive*.
* Methodist Hymnal, No. 743.
“Late, late, so late! and dark the night and chill:
Late, late, so late! but we can enter still."
“Too late! too late! ye cannot enter now!”
“No light! so late! and dark and chill the night—
O let us in that we may find the light!"
“Too late! too late! ye cannot enter now!”
* * * * * *
“Have we not heard the Bridegroom is so sweet?
O let us in that we may kiss his feet!"
“No, No—! too late! ye cannot enter now!”
The words are found in “Queen Guinevere,” a canto of the “Idyls of the King.”