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