Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ELECTED KNIGHT, by ANONYMOUS First Line: Sir oluf he rideth over the plain Last Line: "now sits the maidens in the high tower, / the youngest sorrows till death" Subject(s): Knights & Knighthood | ||||||||
Sir Oluf he rideth over the plain, Full seven miles broad and seven miles wide, But never, ah never can meet with the man A tilt with him dare ride. He saw under the hillside A Knight full well equipped; His steed was black, his helm was barred; He was riding at full speed. He wore upon his spurs Twelve little golden birds; Anon he spurred his steed with a clang, And there sat all the birds and sang. He wore upon his mail Twelve little golden wheels; Anon in eddies the wild wind blew, And round and round the wheels they flew. He wore before his breast A lance that was poised in rest; And it was sharper than diamond-stone, It made Sir Oluf's heart to groan. He wore upon his helm A wreath of ruddy gold; And that gave him the Maidens Three, The youngest was fair to behold. Sir Oluf questioned the Knight eftsoon If he were come from heaven down; "Art thou Christ of Heaven," quoth he, "So will I yield me unto thee." "I am not Christ the Great, Thou shalt not yield thee yet; I am an Unknown Knight, Three modest Maidens have me bedight." "Art thou a Knight elected, And have three Maidens thee bedight So shalt thou ride a tilt this day, For all the Maidens' honor!" The first tilt they together rode They put their steeds to the test, The second tilt they together rode, They proved their manhood best. The third tilt they together rode, Neither of them would yield; The fourth tilt they together rode, They both fell on the field. Now lie the lords upon the plain, And their blood runs unto death; Now sit the Maidens in the high tower, The youngest sorrows till death. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WILD RIDE by LOUISE IMOGEN GUINEY LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI by JOHN KEATS THE GILLYFLOWER OF GOLD by WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896) THE HAYSTACK IN THE FLOODS by WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896) TO A CHILD OF QUALITY, FIVE YEARS OLD. THE AUTHOR THAN FORTY by MATTHEW PRIOR MAIDEN MELANCHOLY by RAINER MARIA RILKE TWO POEMS TO HANS THOMA ON HIS SIXIETH BIRTHDAY: 2. THE KNIGHT by RAINER MARIA RILKE SIR GAWAINE AND THE GREEN KNIGHT by YVOR WINTERS THE RHYME OF SIR LAUNCELOT BOGLE; A LEGEND OF GLASGOW by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN TIS A LITTLE JOURNEY by ANONYMOUS |
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