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Title: The Sailing Of The Sword
Author: William Morris [
More Titles by Morris]
Across the empty garden-beds,
_When the Sword went out to sea,_
I scarcely saw my sisters' heads
Bowed each beside a tree.
I could not see the castle leads,
_When the Sword went out to sea,_
Alicia wore a scarlet gown,
_When the Sword went out to sea,_
But Ursula's was russet brown:
For the mist we could not see
The scarlet roofs of the good town,
_When the Sword went out to sea._
Green holly in Alicia's hand,
_When the Sword went out to sea;_
With sere oak-leaves did Ursula stand;
O! yet alas for me!
I did but bear a peel'd white wand,
_When the Sword went out to sea._
O, russet brown and scarlet bright,
_When the Sword went out to sea,_
My sisters wore; I wore but white:
Red, brown, and white, are three;
Three damozels; each had a knight,
_When the Sword went out to sea._
Sir Robert shouted loud, and said:
_When the Sword went out to sea,_
Alicia, while I see thy head,
What shall I bring for thee?
O, my sweet Lord, a ruby red:
_The Sword went out to sea._
Sir Miles said, while the sails hung down,
_When the Sword went out to sea,_
O, Ursula! while I see the town,
What shall I bring for thee?
Dear knight, bring back a falcon brown:
_The Sword went out to sea._
But my Roland, no word he said
_When the Sword went out to sea,_
But only turn'd away his head;
A quick shriek came from me:
Come back, dear lord, to your white maid.
_The Sword went out to sea._
The hot sun bit the garden-beds
_When the Sword came back from sea;_
Beneath an apple-tree our heads
Stretched out toward the sea;
Grey gleam'd the thirsty castle-leads,
_When the Sword came back from sea._
Lord Robert brought a ruby red,
_When the Sword came back from sea;_
He kissed Alicia on the head:
I am come back to thee;
'Tis time, sweet love, that we were wed,
_Now the Sword is back from sea!_
Sir Miles he bore a falcon brown,
_When the Sword came back from sea;_
His arms went round tall Ursula's gown:
What joy, O love, but thee?
Let us be wed in the good town,
_Now the Sword is back from sea!_
My heart grew sick, no more afraid,
_When the Sword came back from sea;_
Upon the deck a tall white maid
Sat on Lord Roland's knee;
His chin was press'd upon her head,
_When the Sword came back from sea!_
[The end]
William Morris's poem: Sailing Of The Sword
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