Tennyson imagines that a lady of high birth in ancient times receives the dead body of her husband, killed in a battle.When they brought her husband-the slain warrior- home, the lady neither fainted nor cried out. All the servant girls who were watching her at this time said that she must either weep or she will die in sorrow. Her servant-women are afraid when they see that she does not move or shed tears, and try to make her weep by reminding her of her husband.
All the servant girls praised their dead master in a soft and a low voice and said that he is worthy of all their love. He is the best and the truest friend and noble and diplomatic even towards his sworn enemies. Yet she did not hear them speak and she herself did not speak nor moved. Then another servant girl moved quietly from her place where she was mourning and went quietly to the altar where the slain body of the warrior laid. She took off the cloth covering the face of the dead warrior for the lady to see but she did not break down into tears nor moved.
Finally, an old nurse of ninety years old came up with the most noble idea. She took the newly born child of the warrior and placed it on the lady's knees. Then suddenly like an out break of heavy rain, thunder and lightning of Summer, she broke down into solid tears and wept profusely. She looked at her child and vowed to continue living and watch her child grow. In the old nurse solution, Tennyson shows a good knowledge of the workings of the mother's heart.