| |
| A CASTLE stands in Yorkshire | |
| (Oh, the hill is fair and green!) | |
| And far beneath it lies a cave | |
| No living man has seen. | |
| |
| It is the cave enchanted | 5 |
| (Oh, seek it ere ye die!) | |
| And there King Arthur and his knights | |
| In dreamless slumber lie. | |
| |
| One time a peasant found it | |
| (Oh, the years have hurried well!) | 10 |
| It was the day of fate for him, | |
| And this is what befell: | |
| |
| Upon a couch of crystal | |
| (Oh, heart be pure and strong!) | |
| He saw the King, and, close beside, | 15 |
| The armored knights athrong. | |
| |
| And all of them were sleeping | |
| (Praise God, who sendeth rest!) | |
| The sleep that comes when strife is done | |
| And ended every quest. | 20 |
| |
| Beside the good King Arthur | |
| (How high is your desire?) | |
| His sword within its scabbard lay, | |
| The sword with blade of fire. | |
| |
| Now had the peasant known it | 25 |
| (Oh, if we all could know!) | |
| He should have drawn that wondrous blade | |
| Before he turned to go. | |
| |
| If but his hand had touched it | |
| (The sword still lieth there!) | 30 |
| He would have felt in every vein | |
| A lofty purpose thrill. | |
| |
| If but his hand had drawn it | |
| (The sword still lieth there!) | |
| A kingly way he would have walked, | 35 |
| Wherever he might fare. | |
| |
| But no; he fled affrighted | |
| (Oh, pitiful the cost!) | |
| And then he knew; but lo! the way | |
| Into the cave was lost. | 40 |
| |
| He searched forever after | |
| (All this was long ago!) | |
| But nevermore that crystal cave | |
| His eager eyes could know. | |
| |
| Pray God ye have the vision | 45 |
| (Oh, search in every land!) | |
| To seize the sword that Arthur bore | |
| When it lies at your hand. | |
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