After T. I.
As I laye a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge,O softlye moaned the dove to her mate within the tree,And meseemed unto my syghteCame rydynge many a knyghteAll cased in armoure bryghteCap-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 hosteNotte a face but was the ghosteOf a friend that I hadde losteLong 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 trackeCame one I hayled as 'Jacke!'But he turned mee his backeWith 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 tydeCome 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 nygherTo 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 breakyngeAnd 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 guessedAt 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.