| As I did travel all on a journey |
| Over the wayside and under a dark moon |
| Hanging above a mountain |
| I spied a young man riding a fine horse |
| Chasing a white hart and all through the woodland |
| There go the hunting and cries |
| And there followed after ten kings and queens |
| Laughing and joking, the white hart they’d seen |
| Bloodied running into the bushes |
| I plume to his helmet, a quiver and a bow |
| There’s nowhere to run now, there’s no place to go |
| The hunter is fast and ready |
| Still farther I journeyed through the hills and the valleys |
| Until upon the verge of despair I sat and rested |
| And there did pass a princely knight pursuit by a lady |
| And this she did say |
| «Oh, may I ask you, kind sir, where you are going?» |
| And pray tell to me, «Sir, why you do hurry? |
| Strange that I should meet you here, come sit by me |
| I have here a magic horn to deliver» |
| «And one drop from this silver and gold horn I hold, sir |
| Shall prove all to be false, lovers beware!» |
| «The gift that you bear for your brother the king |
| I gladly would carry to the banquet this evening |
| What fair sport this would be for the maidens at court» |
| Wearily, I crossed the stream to the castle |
| Where I found shelter from the cold wintry wind |
| And food did I have and plenty |
| But the Lord and Lady seemed so sad |
| For these words they did say unto each other |
| «My good Lord, all off to war in thy armor |
| Leaving me here alone to weep and to worry |
| Take care lest misadventure» |
| «Shall overcome thy kindly heart |
| My good Lord, all off to war in thy armor» |
| «My Lady, you have no need for to worry |
| I’ll return victorious and true unto Thee» |
| «Take care, lest misadventure |
| Shall stain your heart and lead to woe |
| My fair Lady you have no need for to worry» |
| While underneath the spreading oak |
| A knight with white device |
| Upon a shield of black and deep |
| In grief and sorrow sings |
| His unrequited love |
| «Young noblewoman riding by |
| Pray tell me have you seen |
| Queen Azelda the fairest maid |
| In company she rides |
| For I swear to have revenge» |
| A thousand days have come and passed |
| The Lord returns this night |
| The victor from the bloody wars |
| Proven his fearsome might |
| As ever he would claim |
| But fate has played its wanton game |
| The circle come full turn |
| The magic horn has done its work |
| Cried «Falseness is found out!» |
| The sorrowed quest is over |