A Song of Uther and Igraine
From Book One, Chapter XIV
(set to any tune with common meter + 3/3)
A moonlit eve ere midsummer’s day,
Igraine caught Uther’s eye—
Her beauty stole his breath away,
Stole away, away.
Hear, hear, o hear! Love shall lend an ear.
With hair as gold as harvest rye,
Lips red as berry tart,
With eyes as blue as summer’s sky,
She looked away, away.
Hear, hear, o hear! Love never was so clear.
Gorlois sensed Uther’s love-struck heart,
The fire in his breast;
He said, my dear, we must depart,
Haste away, away.
Hear, hear, o hear! Love never be so dear.
When Uther sought his missing guest,
He yearned for a fight.
He burned as if a man obsessed,
Burned away, away.
Hear, hear, o hear! Love, wait another year.
‘O dark dishonor, damned low slight,’
The fierce Pendragon cried.
‘That Gorlois fled my feast tonight,
Fled away, away.
Hear, hear, o hear! Love cannot hide this smear.”
To Tintagel the two had hied,
While all were fast asleep,
Gorlois locked up his lovely bride,
Locked away, away.
Hear, hear, o hear! Love cannot disappear.
The narrow bridge, the sea-cliffs steep,
Where cold winds cruelly blow,
No band of rogues could raid the keep,
To take Igraine away.
Hear, hear, o hear! Love’s vengeance circles near.
The Dragon gazed up from below,
And this he gravely swore:
‘To battle brave Gorlois shall go,
Go, away, away.’
Hear, hear, o hear! Love sharpens envy’s spear.
When Saxons next knocked at our door,
Each striker raised a shield.
Gorlois, he led the band to war,
Led them away, away.
Hear, hear, o hear! Love casts out every fear.
He fell upon the battle-field—
Our splendid warrior died.
And Igraine’s bonds to him unsealed,
Fell away, away.
Hear, hear, o hear! Love has built a bier.”
O, Uther wept, and Igraine cried—
Their woe seemed without end.
But hearts heal faster, side by side,
Tears wash away, away.
Hear, hear, o hear! Love dries every tear.
‘I cannot lose another friend,’
So wept widowed Igraine.
‘Stay here, and help my heart to mend,
Fly not away, away.’
Hear, hear, o hear! Love will bring new cheer.
He could not bear leave her again,
So Uther wed her there,
And hand in hand they ruled Prydain,
Uther and Igraine.
Hear, hear, o hear! Love will persevere.
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