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| WHEN good King Arthur ruled this land, | |
| He dwelt at Caerleon-upon-Usk; | |
| He held it with an armed right hand, | |
| And drank red wine from dawn till dusk. | |
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| How stalwart were the warriors then, | 5 |
| In our time no such maidens are: | |
| King Arthur was the first of men, | |
| The fairest dame Queen Guenevar. | |
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| When Merlin waved his silver wand, | |
| None dared dispute its awful spells; | 10 |
| On summer nights the moonlit strand | |
| Was musical with fairy bells. | |
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| And all the knights in Arthur’s court | |
| Made glorious that enchanted spot; | |
| And who was first in every sport,— | 15 |
| Ah, who was loved but Launcelot! | |
| |
| How bright the armor which they wore | |
| When setting out at morning-tide,— | |
| The silken banners which they bore, | |
| By gentle hands were wrought and dyed. | 20 |
| |
| And who shall rise, and who shall fall, | |
| When they the robber-bands assail; | |
| And whose pure hands shall duty call | |
| To seek and find the holy Grail! | |
| |
| Fair company of noble knights | 25 |
| That ride in that mysterious land, | |
| And celebrate your mystic rites | |
| With stainless sword in stainless hand. | |
| |
| Ah, where is Caerleon-upon-Usk! | |
| Though somewhere in the south of Wales, | 30 |
| The wanderer there, at gathering dusk, | |
| When dreaming o’er these ancient tales, | |
| |
| Will hardly see such lovely dames, | |
| Will hardly meet such noble men, | |
| Till bards and prophets prove their claims, | 35 |
| And good King Arthur comes again! | |
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