Poems (Waldenburg)/The Song of Cœur de Lion
THE SONG OF CŒUR DE LION.
It is a well-known song sung through the streets along,
Or where the students throng, in cities olden;
Or on the waters bright, as the boat glides so light
While o'er the Rhine at night, the moon hangs golden.
Or where the students throng, in cities olden;
Or on the waters bright, as the boat glides so light
While o'er the Rhine at night, the moon hangs golden.
As trumpet sweet and clear loud ringeth far and near,
Thrilling the listening ear, martial, sonorous;
Breathing of battle pride, stamping of steeds as ride
Knights who the foe defied, so rings the chorus!
Thrilling the listening ear, martial, sonorous;
Breathing of battle pride, stamping of steeds as ride
Knights who the foe defied, so rings the chorus!
Richard of England was with his scattered band
Home bound through Austria's land captured by night.
Then to dark dungeons led were the brave hearts that bled
'Neath Orient skies so red, in holy fight!
Home bound through Austria's land captured by night.
Then to dark dungeons led were the brave hearts that bled
'Neath Orient skies so red, in holy fight!
When to old England word came of her prisoned lord,
Sadly each heart was stirred, great ransom bidden;
Captured by robber crew, no one could tell or knew
W hat castle dungeon grue held the king hidden.
Sadly each heart was stirred, great ransom bidden;
Captured by robber crew, no one could tell or knew
W hat castle dungeon grue held the king hidden.
Up rose the minstrel knight Blondel, the singer bright,
Who thro' the Crusade fight bravely had stood
With Richard when he won the siege of Ascalon,
Then loudly triumph sung, in Song's sweet flood!
Who thro' the Crusade fight bravely had stood
With Richard when he won the siege of Ascalon,
Then loudly triumph sung, in Song's sweet flood!
With harp across his breast forth speeds he on his quest;
North, South, and East and West seeks he his king.
While Richard's treasured song sings he the vales along,
And as its echoes throng the hills they ring!
North, South, and East and West seeks he his king.
While Richard's treasured song sings he the vales along,
And as its echoes throng the hills they ring!
Onward until the Rhine laden with wealth of vine,
Bathed in the warm sunshine floweth in beauty.
From moss-hung rocks and brown, proud castle towers frown
Monarchs of Nature's crown yielding her duty.
Bathed in the warm sunshine floweth in beauty.
From moss-hung rocks and brown, proud castle towers frown
Monarchs of Nature's crown yielding her duty.
When Trifel's height he won one eve at set of sun,
Sadly his eye upon its beauty fell;
Still with one effort more, tender the song did pour
Forth from his lips and soar clear as a bell!
Sadly his eye upon its beauty fell;
Still with one effort more, tender the song did pour
Forth from his lips and soar clear as a bell!
List! Hark! What was that sound? How his sad heart doth bound.
Has he his king then found? Oh hope so bright!
Down from the tower high, comes the same battle cry,
And the same melody answers the knight!
Has he his king then found? Oh hope so bright!
Down from the tower high, comes the same battle cry,
And the same melody answers the knight!
Wild bounds he to the walls—wildly the warden calls—
"Open to me your halls, release I bring—
Read—from your Emperor—"past them a massive door
Unbarring, kneels before Richard, his king!
"Open to me your halls, release I bring—
Read—from your Emperor—"past them a massive door
Unbarring, kneels before Richard, his king!
"Richard, O king of mine, let my hands touch but thine,
Happy the tears that shine these cheeks adown!
Unscathed I find thee late, through a song's happy fate,
Haste, England's people wait thy brow to crown!"
Happy the tears that shine these cheeks adown!
Unscathed I find thee late, through a song's happy fate,
Haste, England's people wait thy brow to crown!"
Down from the castled height in the grey morning light,
Forth journey king and knight on to the sea.
Soon then with sails outspread and blithe winds overhead
Sailed Richard, mourned as dead, to his countrie!
Forth journey king and knight on to the sea.
Soon then with sails outspread and blithe winds overhead
Sailed Richard, mourned as dead, to his countrie!
Still yet throughout the land where Trifel's ruins stand
And the Rhine's silver band windeth along,
Where Blondel sought his king, war-like the voices ring,
As loud the students sing—King Richard's song.
And the Rhine's silver band windeth along,
Where Blondel sought his king, war-like the voices ring,
As loud the students sing—King Richard's song.