Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MOURNFUL TOURNAMENT, by JOHANN LUDWIG UHLAND


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MOURNFUL TOURNAMENT, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: With shield and spear apace they ride
Last Line: To slumber side by side.
Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Death; Man-woman Relationships; Tournaments; Dead, The; Male-female Relations


WITH shield and spear apace they ride,
Seven knights all true and bold,
For the king's fair daughter
A tournament to hold.

Hark! the bells are tolling, tolling,
Over the castle wall;
As they enter, see the tapers
Burning in the lofty hall.

Sweet Adelheid, the princess fair,
Lieth in death's cold sleep;
At her head the old king watches,
Watches but to weep.

Then out spake proud Degenwerth—
"Loud must I complain;
Vainly have I girt my steed,
Borne shield and spear in vain."

Answered him young Adelbert—
"There needs not this lament,
The daughter of the king is worth
Always a tournament."

Quoth bold Sir Walther: "Rather far
Our steps be homeward led;
Small honor waits to crown their war
Who battle for the dead."

Cried Adelbert: "Well is she dead;
There liveth none so fair
To wear her wreath of roses red,
Her golden ring to wear."

Forthwith these seven knights so bold
Rode out upon the plain;
Hard was the strife, until, at last,
Six of the seven were slain.

The seventh was young Adelbert,
The victor over all,
He lighted pale from off his steed,
And paced the lofty hall.

He took the wreath of roses red,
The golden ring as well,
Then quickly by the maiden's side,
As pale as she, he fell.

Hark! the bells are tolling, tolling—
Wrapt in funeral weeds,
To the grave the heroes slain,
The mournful monarch leads;

And with the conquering knight they bear
The gentle Adelheid,
Beneath one stone, in the cool earth
To slumber side by side.





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