Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE RED CROSS KNIGHT by ANONYMOUS

First Line: "BLOW, WARDER, BLOW THY SOUNDING HORN"
Last Line: AND THE FEAST EAT MERRILY
Subject(s): CHRISTIANITY;KNIGHTS & KNIGHTHOOD;
'BLOW, warder, blow thy sounding horn,
And thy banner wave on high;
For the Christians have fought in the Holy Land,
And have won the victory.'
Loud the warder blew his horn,
And his banner waved on high;
'Let the mass be sung, and the bells be rung,
And the feast eat merrily.'

The warder looked from the tower on high,
As far as he could see:
'I see a bold knight, and by his red cross,
He comes from the east country.'
Then loud the warder blew his horn,
And called, till he was hoarse,
'I see a bold knight, and on his shield bright
He beareth a flaming cross.'

Then down the lord of the castle came,
The Red Cross Knight to meet,
And when the Red Cross Knight he espied,
Right loving did him greet.
'Thou'rt welcome here, dear Red Cross Knight,
For thy fame's well known to me,
And the mass shall be sung, and the bells shall be rung,
And we'll feast right merrily.'

'Oh, I am come from the Holy Land,
Where saints did live and die;
Behold the device I bear on my shield,
The Red Cross Knight am I:
And we have fought, in the Holy Land,
And we've won the victory,
For with valiant might did the Christians fight,
And made the proud Pagans fly.'

'Thou'rt welcome here, dear Red Cross Knight,
Come, lay thy armour by;
And for the tidings thou dost bring,
We'll feast us merrily.
For all, in my castle shall rejoice,
That we've won the victory;
And the mass shall be sung, and the bells shall be rung.
And the feast eat merrily.'



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