WHEN good King Arthur ruled this land, <br />He dwelt at Caerleon-upon-Usk; <br />He held it with an armed right hand, <br />And drank red wine from dawn till dusk. <br /> <br />How stalwart were the warriors then, <br />In our time no such maidens are; <br />King Arthur was the first of men, <br />The fairest dame Queen Guenevar. <br /> <br />When Merlin waved his silver wand, <br />None dared dispute its awful spells; <br />On summer-nights the moonlit strand <br />Was musical with fairy bells. <br /> <br />And all the knights in Arthur's Court <br />Made glorious that enchanted spot; <br />And who was first in every sport-- <br />Ah, who was loved but Launcelot! <br /> <br />How bright the armour which they wore <br />When setting out at morning-tide,-- <br />The silken banners which they bore, <br />By gentle hands were wrought and dyed. <br /> <br />And who shall rise, and who shall fall, <br />When they the robber-bands assail; <br />And whose pure hands shall duty call <br />To seek and find the holy Grail! <br /> <br />Fair company of noble knights <br />That ride in that mysterious land, <br />And celebrate your mystic rites <br />With stainless sword in stainless hand! <br /> <br />Ah, where is Caerleon-upon-Usk! <br />Though somewhere in the south of Wales,-- <br />The wanderer there, at gathering dusk, <br />When dreaming o'er these ancient tales,-- <br /> <br />Will hardly see such lovely dames, <br />Will hardly meet such noble men, <br />Till bards and prophets prove their claims, <br />And good King Arthur--comes again!<br /><br />Bessie Rayner Parkes<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/king-arthur-2/
