Artist: Edmund Leighton (British, 1852β1922)
Collection: Private Collection
The King and the Beggar Maid
The story tells of an African king who rejected the affections of all women until he saw a beautiful young beggar from the window of his palace and fell deeply in love for the first time. He vowed to win the affections of the girl, or kill himself if she rejects him. Rushing into the street, he threw golden coins before him so that the beggars gathered around and when Penelophon stepped forward, he pledged his love for her and asked her to marry him and become his queen. Cophetua and Penelephon were wed and lived a long and happy life adored by their people, eventually being laid to rest in each otherβs arms in their shared tomb. The story has become symbolic of the triumph of love and also a beacon of hope for those lacking love or wealth.
Leighton depicted the moment that King Cophetua pledged his love for the beggar maid, who he has placed on the dais of his golden throne. He kneels before her in supplication to her beauty, offering his bejewelled crown to her and gazes expectantly into her eyes. She steadies herself against the throne and modestly holds her cloak across her breast as she listens to his words of betrothal.
Her arms across her breast she laid;
She was more fair than words can say;
Barefooted came the beggar maid
Before the king Cophetua.
In robe and crown the king stept down,
To meet and greet her on her way;
βIt is no wonder,β said the lords,
βShe is more beautiful than day.β
As shines the moon in clouded skies,
She in her poor attire was seen;
One praised her ankles, one her eyes,
One her dark hair and lovesome mien.
So sweet a face, such angel grace,
In all that land had never been.
Cophetua sware a royal oath:
βThis beggar maid shall be my queen!β
Alfred Tennyson, The Beggar Maid
βThe king with courteous comly talke
This beggar doth imbrace:
The beggar blusheth scarlet red,
And straight again as pale as leade,
But not a word at all she said,
She was in such amaze.β
~ Thomas Percy inΒ Reliques of Ancient English Poetry
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