Hunting Song

As I did travel all on a journey

Over the wayside and under a dark moon

Hanging above a mountain

I spied a young man riding a fine horse

Chasing a white hart and all through the woodland

There go the hunting and cries

And there followed after ten kings and queens

Laughing and joking, the white hart they'd seen

Bloodied running into the bushes

I plume to his helmet, a quiver and a bow

There's nowhere to run now, there's no place to go

The hunter is fast and ready

Still farther I journeyed through the hills and the valleys

Until upon the verge of despair I sat and rested

And there did pass a princely knight poursuite by a lady

And this she did say: "Oh may I ask you kind sir where you are going?

And pray tell unto me sir why you do hurry

Strange that I should meet you here, come sit by me.

"I have here a magic horn to deliver

And one drop from this silver and gold horn I hold, sir

Shall prove all to be false, lovers beware!"

"The gift that you bear for your brother the king

I gladly would carry to the banquet this even'

What fair sport this would be for the maidens at court."

Wearily I crossed the stream to the castle

Where I found shelter from the cold wintry wind

And food did I have and plenty

But the Lord and Lady seemed so sad

For these words they did say unto each other:

"My good lord, all off to war in thy armor

Leaving me here alone to weep and to worry

Take care lest misadventure

Shall overcome thy kindly heart

My good lord, all off to war in thy armor."

"My lady, you have no need for to worry

I'll return victorious and true unto thee

Take care, lest misadventure

Shall stain your heart and lead to woe

My fair lady you have no need for to worry."

While underneath the spreading oak a knight with white device

Upon a shield of black, and deep in grief and sorrow sings

His unrequited love "Young noblewoman riding by, pray tell me have you seen

Queen Azelda the fairest maid, in company she rides For I swear to have revenge."

A thousand days have come and passed, the Lord returns this night

The victor from the bloody wars proven his fearsome might

As ever he would claim

But fate has played its wanton game, the circle come full turn

The magic horn has done its work, cried "Falseness is found out!"

The sorrowed quest is over.