THE BALLAD OF SEMMERWATER

They lighted a great torch then.
When his arms were pinion3 d fast.

Sir John the knight of the Fen,
Sir Guy of the Dolorous Blast,

With knights threescore and ten,
Hung brave Lord Hugh at last.

I am threescore and ten,

And my hair is all turn'd grey,
But I met Sir John of the Fen

Long ago on a summer day, 10

And am glad to think of the moment when

I took his life away.

I am threescore and ten,

And my strength is mostly pass'd,

But long ago I and my men,
When the sky was overcast,

And the smoke roll'd over the reeds of the fen,
Slew Guy of the Dolorous Blast.

And now, knights all of you,

I pray you pray for Sir Hugh, 20

A good knight and a true,

And for Alice, his wife, pray too.

WILLIAM MORRIS

THE BALLAD OF SEMMERWATER
NORTH-COUNTRY LEGEND
Deep asleep, deep asleep,
Deep asleep it lies,
The still lake of Semmerwater
Under the still skies.