Maidens with bounden eyes (O loose the scarves of gold!) Maidens with bounden eyes, They sought their destinies. At noon they opened wide (O keep the scarves of gold!) At noon they opened wide The palace in the plain: There they greeted life (Bind close the scarves of gold!) There they greeted life, And turned them back again. V The three blind sisters (Hope is not cold), The three blind sisters Light their lamps of gold. Up the tower go they (They and you and we), Up the tower go they To wait the seventh day. Ah, saith one, turning (Still let us hope), Ah, saith one, turning, I hear our lamps burning.... Ah, the second saith (They and you and we), Ah, the second saith, Tis the king's tread.... Nay, the holiest saith (Still let us hope), Nay, the holiest saith, But our light is dead. VI There came one here to say (O child, I am afraid!) There came one here to say 'Twas time to haste away.... A burning lamp I bear, (O child, I am afraid!) A burning lamp I bear, And I draw near! At the first door, (O child, I am afraid!) At the first door The flame shook sore.... Then, at the second, (O child, I am afraid!) Then, at the second, The flame spoke and beckoned.... The third door is wide (O child, but this is fear!) The third door is wide, And the flame has died. VII Orlamonde had seven daughters When the fairy died The seven maids, the seven daughters, Sought to win outside. Then they lit their seven lamps; Through all the towers they sought; They opened full four hundred halls; The day, they found it not. They came to the echoing caverns deep; Down, tho' the air was cold, Went, and in a stubborn door Found a key of gold. They see the ocean through the chinks; They fear to die outside; They beat on the unmoving door They dare not open wide. VIII She had three crowns of gold: To whom did she give the three? One she gave to her parents dear, And they have bought three reeds of gold, And kept her till the spring was near. And one to those that loved her well: And they have bought three nets of gold, And kept her till the autumn fell. And one she gave to those she bore, And they have bought three gyves of iron, To chain her till the winter's o'er. IX Toward the castle she made her way (Hardly yet was the sun on the sea), Toward the castle she made her way; Knight looked at knight and looked away; The women had never a word to say.