O what can ail thee, knight so pale,
Alone you wander, heart grown frail,
Through meads where silent shadows trail.
I see the sedge withered by the lake,
No birds to sing, no sounds to wake,
Your cheeks a rose that dares to fade,
Your brow a lily, grief displayed.
I met a lady, faery-child,
Her eyes were wild, her spirit wild,
La Belle Dame sans Merci: A Ballad,
She drew me in with magic mild.
I wove for her a fragrant band,
Garlands and bracelets shaped by hand,
She looked as if she loved me true,
Her sweet moans lingered, soft and few.
Upon my steed she danced along,
Singing a soft, enchanted song,
I saw no world but her and sky,
Time paused beneath her wandering eye.
She fed me honey, manna-dew,
Whispered in language strange but true,
La Belle Dame sans Merci: A Ballad,
Held me captive in her world of hue.
She led me to her elfin grot,
Where sorrow lived, and tears were caught,
Her wild eyes closed by tender care,
And in her arms, I lingered there.
I slept, and dreams both dark and deep,
Pale kings and warriors did not keep
Their warning soft; their lips did cry,
“Thee hath La Belle Dame sans Merci: A Ballad nigh!”
I woke upon the cold hill side,
Alone, abandoned, love denied,
Though meads were green, the world seemed bare,
No song, no life, just empty air.
Her beauty haunts me, never gone,
Her voice, her touch, my heart lives on,
The knight remains, alone, distressed,
By her enchantment, deeply blessed.
O reader, learn from this lament,
That love can charm and hearts be spent,
Yet magic fades and leaves behind
The lonely echoes of the mind.
Read More: https://truehymns.com/april-morning/
“La Belle Dame sans Merci: A Ballad” Summary
“La Belle Dame sans Merci: A Ballad” by John Keats tells the story of a knight-at-arms who meets a mysterious and enchanting fairy-like lady. He falls deeply in love with her, receiving gifts of sweet food and gentle affection. However, she lulls him to sleep and in a dream he sees pale kings and warriors who warn him that the lady has left him trapped in her spell. When he awakens, he is alone on a cold hillside, abandoned and sorrowful, showing the dangers of enchantment, desire, and unfulfilled love.
