THE LADY OF SHALOTT (Lord Tennyson)

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PART I! She knows not what the 'curse' may be,!
! And so [6] she weaveth steadily,!
On either side the river lie! And little other care hath she,!
Long fields of barley and of rye,! The Lady of Shalott.!
That clothe the wold and meet the sky;! !
And thro' the field the road runs by! And moving thro' a mirror clear!
To many-tower'd Camelot;! That hangs before her all the year,!
And up and down the people go,! Shadows of the world appear.!
Gazing where the lilies blow! There she sees the highway near!
Round an island there below,! Winding down to Camelot:!
The island of Shalott. [1]! There the river eddy whirls,!
! And there the surly village-churls, [7]!
Willows whiten, aspens quiver, [2]! And the red cloaks of market girls,!
Little breezes dusk and shiver! Pass onward from Shalott.!
Thro' the wave that runs for ever! !
By the island in the river! Sometimes a troop of damsels glad,!
Flowing down to Camelot.! An abbot on an ambling pad,!
Four gray walls, and four gray towers,! Sometimes a curly shepherd-lad,!
Overlook a space of flowers,! Or long-hair'd page in crimson clad,!
And the silent isle imbowers! Goes by to tower'd Camelot;!
The Lady of Shalott.! !
! And sometimes thro' the mirror blue!
By the margin, willow-veil'd! The knights come riding two and two:!
Slide the heavy barges trail'd! She hath no loyal knight and true,!
By slow horses; and unhail'd! The Lady of Shalott.!
The shallop flitteth silken-sail'd! !
Skimming down to Camelot:! But in her web she still delights!
But who hath seen her wave her hand?! To weave the mirror's magic sights,!
Or at the casement seen her stand?! For often thro' the silent nights!
Or is she known in all the land,! A funeral, with plumes and lights,!
The Lady of Shalott? [3]! And music, went to Camelot: [8]!
! Or when the moon was overhead,!
Only reapers, reaping early! Came two young lovers lately wed;!
In among the bearded barley,! "I am half-sick of shadows," said!
Hear a song that echoes cheerly! The Lady of Shalott. [9]!
From the river winding clearly,! !
Down to tower'd Camelot:! !
And by the moon the reaper weary,! !
Piling sheaves in uplands airy,! PART III!
Listening, whispers "'Tis the fairy! !
Lady of Shalott". [4]! A bow-shot from her bower-eaves,!
! He rode between the barley sheaves,!
! The sun came dazzling thro' the leaves,!
! And flamed upon the brazen greaves!
PART II! Of bold Sir Lancelot.!
! A redcross knight for ever kneel'd!
There she weaves by night and day! To a lady in his shield,!
A magic web with colours gay.! That sparkled on the yellow field,!
She has heard a whisper say,! Beside remote Shalott.!
A curse is on her if she stay [5]! !
To look down to Camelot.! The gemmy bridle glitter'd free,!
Like to some branch of stars we see! With a glassy countenance!
Hung in the golden Galaxy. [10]! Did she look to Camelot.!
The bridle bells rang merrily! And at the closing of the day!
As he rode down to [11] Camelot:! She loosed the chain, and down she lay;!
And from his blazon'd baldric slung! The broad stream bore her far away,!
A mighty silver bugle hung,! The Lady of Shalott.!
And as he rode his armour rung,! !
Beside remote Shalott.! Lying, robed in snowy white!
! That loosely flew to left and right--!
All in the blue unclouded weather! The leaves upon her falling light--!
Thick-jewell'd shone the saddle-leather,! Thro' the noises of the night!
The helmet and the helmet-feather! She floated down to Camelot;!
Burn'd like one burning flame together,! And as the boat-head wound along!
As he rode down to Camelot. [12]! The willowy hills and fields among,!
As often thro' the purple night,! They heard her singing her last song,!
Below the starry clusters bright,! The Lady of Shalott. [18]!
Some bearded meteor, trailing light,! !
Moves over still Shalott. [13]! Heard a carol, mournful, holy,!
! Chanted loudly, chanted lowly,!
His broad clear brow in sunlight glow'd;! Till her blood was frozen slowly,!
On burnish'd hooves his war-horse trode;! And her eyes were darken'd wholly, [19]!
From underneath his helmet flow'd! Turn'd to tower'd Camelot;!
His coal-black curls as on he rode,! For ere she reach'd upon the tide!
As he rode down to Camelot. [14]! The first house by the water-side,!
From the bank and from the river! Singing in her song she died,!
He flashed into the crystal mirror,! The Lady of Shalott.!
"Tirra lirra," by the river [15]! !
Sang Sir Lancelot.! Under tower and balcony,!
! By garden-wall and gallery,!
She left the web, she left the loom;! A gleaming shape she floated by,!
She made three paces thro' the room,! Dead-pale [20] between the houses high,!
She saw the water-lily [16] bloom,! Silent into Camelot.!
She saw the helmet and the plume,! Out upon the wharfs they came,!
She look'd down to Camelot.! Knight and burgher, lord and dame,!
Out flew the web and floated wide;! And round the prow they read her name,!
The mirror crack'd from side to side;! 'The Lady of Shalott' [21]!
"The curse is come upon me," cried! !
The Lady of Shalott.! Who is this? and what is here?!
! And in the lighted palace near!
! Died the sound of royal cheer;!
! And they cross'd themselves for fear,!
PART IV! All the knights at Camelot:!
! But Lancelot [22] mused a little space;!
In the stormy east-wind straining,! He said, "She has a lovely face;!
The pale yellow woods were waning,! God in his mercy lend her grace,!
The broad stream in his banks complaining,! The Lady of Shalott". [23]
Heavily the low sky raining!
Over tower'd Camelot;!
Down she came and found a boat!
Beneath a willow left afloat,!
And round about the prow she wrote!
'The Lady of Shalott.' [17]!
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And down the river's dim expanse--!
Like some bold ser in a trance,!
Seeing all his own mischance--!