Selected Poems by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

‘A glimpse of that dark world where I was born.’ – On one level, this is simply literal, as the world is in darkness before the sun rises, but there is also a sense that Tithonus was living in a dark shadow world before love brought him out into the light.

‘Once more the old mysterious glimmer steals’ – Aurora’s gradual illumination begins with gentle polysyllables – ‘mysterious glimmer.’

‘And bosom beating with a heart renew'd.’ – The heart-beat sound of ‘bosom beating’ suggests an access of life, but also sexual passion.

‘Thy cheek begins to redden thro' the gloom,’ – also suggestive of arousal.

‘Thy sweet eyes brighten slowly close to mine,’ – Much of the imagery here suggests Aurora growing more passionate and loving – something that Tithonus can no longer respond to.

‘…the wild team/Which love thee, yearning for thy yoke, arise,’ – Tennyson conflates Aurora with Apollo, the sun god, here, so that it is she who drives the sun chariot across the skies.

‘And shake the darkness from their loosen'd manes,/And beat the twilight into flakes of fire.’ – Horses stamping their shoes on rock can make sparks; these horses of the dawn actually seem to create light.

‘Lo! ever thus thou growest beautiful/In silence,’ – Tithonus’ isolation is such that Aurora never seems to speak to him, and he never hears another voice. In this, he resembles Mariana and the Lady of Shalott.

‘…then before thine answer given/Departest,’ – to the request ‘take back thy gift’ and let him die.

‘…and thy tears are on my cheek.’ – Aurora’s tears may answer Tithonus’ request and confirm that the ‘gods cannot take back a gift once given’ – a common mythological idea found, for example, in the Midas story. Possibly, however, she still loves Tithonus too much to let him go. Her ‘tears’ are also the dew of early morning.

‘In days far-off, on that dark earth,’ – a further reference to the ‘darkness’ of Tithonus’ past.