As I laye a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge, O softlye moaned the dove to her mate within the tree, And meseemed unto my syghte Came rydynge many a knyghte
All cased in armoure bryghte Cap-a-pie, As I laye a-dreamynge, a goodlye companye! As I laye a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge,
O sadlye mourned the dove, callynge long and callynge lowe, And meseemed of alle that hoste Notte a face but was the ghoste Of a friend that I hadde loste
Long agoe. As I laye a-dreamynge, oh, bysson teare to flowe! As I laye a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge, O sadlye sobbed the dove as she seemed to despayre,
And laste upon the tracke Came one I hayled as‘ Jacke!’ But he turned mee his backe With a stare:
As I laye a-dreamynge, he lefte mee callynge there. Stille I laye a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge, And gentler sobbed the dove as it eased her of her payne, And meseemed a voyce yt cry'd —
‘ They shall ryde, and they shall ryde ‘ Tyll the truce of tyme and tyde Come agayne! Alle for Eldorado, yette never maye attayne!’
Stille I laye a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge, And scarcelye moaned the dove, as her agonye was spente: ‘ Shalle to-morrowe see them nygher To a golden walle or spyre?
You have better in yr fyre, Bee contente.’ As I laye a-dreamynge, it seem'd smalle punyshment. But I laye a-wakynge, and loe! the dawne was breakynge
And rarely pyped a larke for the promyse of the daye: ‘ Uppe and sette yr lance in reste! Uppe and followe on the queste! Leave the issue to be guessed
At the endynge of the waye’ — As I laye a-wakynge,‘ twas soe she seemed to say — ‘ Whatte and if it alle be feynynge? There be better thynges than gaynynge,
Rycher pryzes than attaynynge.’ — And‘ twas truthe she seemed to saye. Whyles the dawne was breakynge, I rode upon my waye.
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