--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Come, hearken then, ere voice of dread…" description: "\"Come, hearken then, ere voice of dread, with bitter tiding laden, shall summon to unwelcome bed a melancholy maiden! We are but older children, dear, w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/lewis-carroll-324_bed_come-hearken-then-ere-voice-of-dread-wit_1388518.jpg" --- # Come, hearken then, ere voice of dread, with bitter tiding… ![“Come, hearken then, ere voice of dread, with bitter tiding laden, shall summon to unwelcome bed a melancholy maiden! We are but older children, dear, who fret to find our bedtime near.” quote by Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/lewis-carroll-324_bed_come-hearken-then-ere-voice-of-dread-wit_1388518.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/lewis-carroll-324_bed_come-hearken-then-ere-voice-of-dread-wit_1388518.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/lewis-carroll-324_bed_come-hearken-then-ere-voice-of-dread-wit_1388518.jpg) > “Come, hearken then, ere voice of dread, with bitter tiding laden, shall summon to unwelcome bed a melancholy maiden! We are but older children, dear, who fret to find our bedtime near.” [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A warning that impending sorrow will arrive unexpectedly, urging acceptance of life's melancholy moments. **In simple terms:** Sorrow will come unexpectedly, accept it. Key Takeaway Embrace melancholy as part of life. Themes accept melancholy acceptance Mood somber reflective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - grieving a loss - facing fear - comforting a child - reflecting on aging Key Concepts existential inevitable growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you comfort yourself in unexpected sadness? - What small joys can offset melancholy? A Different Perspective Even in sorrow, hope can emerge with support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bed/) [Bed Melancholy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bed-melancholy-4831638/) [Bedtime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bedtime/) [Bedtime Near](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bedtime-near-4831640/) [Bitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Dear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear/) [Dread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dread/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fret Bedtime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fret-bedtime-4831639/) [Maidens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maidens/) [Melancholy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melancholy/) [Melancholy Maiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melancholy-maiden-4831641/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [We are but older children, dear, Who fret to find our bedtime near.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/we-are-but-older-children-dear-who-fret-to-find-our-bedtime-near/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Hauntings are memes, especially pernicious thought contagions, social contagions that need no viral or bacterial host and are transmitted in a thousand different ways.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitl-n-r-kiernan/hauntings-are-memes-especially-pernicious-thought-contagions-social/) [Caitlín R. 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