Poems (Dodd)/The Days of Chivalry
THE DAYS OF CHIVALRY.
Alas! the days of chivalry are gone, Of wild adventure and of thrilling story,When father Time his glittering wings put on, And knights and ladies lived for love and glory.
Then the fair damsel graced the festal board, By brave and courtly cavaliers surrounded;With tale and song the sparkling wine was poured, And the wide castle-hall to mirth resounded.
Would I had lived in those old times, ah me! When life was all romance and lovers plenty;For every dame of lengthy pedigree, Could number in her train no less than twenty.
Not such cold hearted ones as we have now, Whose smiles, to say the least, are rather shady,Who think the passing notice of a bow, Sufficient homage to be paid a lady.
Nor like the beau, who reekless of the duds, All rules of etiquette and deference scorning, Seeks to surprise his mistress "in the suds," And pops right in upon a Monday morning.
Give me the valiant knight, who breaks a lance With every cavalier my beauty doubting,And thinks himself repaid with one bright glance, For the light toil of a whole dozen routing.
Who, in his calender, but marks the hour Which brings him to my feet with homage lowly,And if I chance to drop a faded flower, Among his relics treasures it as holy.
See, in the bannered hall, on dais high, The queen of hearts all other maids excelling,While her fair damsel-train are clustering nigh, And at her feet his tale the minstrel telling:
How, on some deed of high emprise, departs A knight, "without reproach," Orlando fearless,Who humbly worships in his heart of hearts, Some lilly of the vale, or rose the peerless.
Or how he seeks a castle old and gray, When careless sentinels are idly dreaming, And a lone taper sheds its steady ray, Love's beacon fire from the high turret gleaming.
A ladder light will soon the lady find, Who on his honor places firm reliance,And their fleet steeds leave danger far behind, Bidding to warder and to watch defiance.
But now we have a tale so tame and true, Of some plain couple, that our pen may honor,Who for a year, or more, will worry through A humdrum courtship in the chimney corner.
Where knight and dame rode o'er the velvet green, With flowers and streams along their pathway lying,A host of hurrying bipeds now are seen, In rail-road cars like evil spirits flying.
No more may wandering minstrel prove to be Some gallant prince with love and valor burning;Or constant maid her own heart's idol see In paladin from Holy Land returning.
For ah, the days of chivalry are o'er, Of wild adventure and romantic story,When father Time his jeweled pinions wore, And knights and ladies lived for love and glory.