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Sir Launcelot’s Slumber Lyrics by Sallie Bridges

Marble Isle, Legends of the Round Table, and Other Poems

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The golden sunshine gemm'd the stream,
Where drooping lilies shadows made;
The willow-branches touch'd the wave,
As though they woo'd their own cool shade;
A Sabbath stillness fill'd the air;
The very insects ceased their tones;
Only the waters rippling by
Made music round gray, sunken stones.
The river-road was hot and dry;
Beyond, a broad, green meadow lay,
Wherein was set a single tree,
Whose ripening fruit perfumed the way;
Its clustering leaves and laden limbs
Darken'd below the grassy plain,
While o'er its gnarl'd and rugged roots
Nature a mossy cloak had lain.
Adown the scorch'd and pebbled road
Sir Launcelot came this summer morn
With glittering hauberk, glaives of steel,
And lance upon his saddle borne.
He left the pathway, cross'd the field,
And 'neath the spreading apple-tree
Unarm'd his weary, mail-clad steed,
And let him roam the pasture free.
Unloosing then his visor'd casque,
Upon the sward he downward laid,
His helm for pillow, and his hand
Clasping the pommel of his blade.
Thus slumber'd he at noontide hour,
The bravest knight in all the world,
With stalwart form and sunburn'd brow,
Where, all untrain'd, the brown hair curl'd.
And as, perchance, in daring dreams,
He spent the rapture of a kiss
On Guinevere's red, dewy lips,
And felt their softness cling to his,
Four lovely queens, on four white mules,
Rode slowly through the meadow green,
O'er whom four knights on lifted spears
Bore canopy of silken sheen.
And as they wended on their way,
Sudden there burst upon their sight,
Dreaming beneath the golden fruit,
This vision of a sleeping knight.
And, gathering round his grassy couch,
In earnest whispers spoke each dame,
Disputing which could love him most,
And which the captive's self should claim.
But Morgan Le Fay, of Gore the Queen,
A ladye subtle, proud, and wise,
Then wrought a spell of glamour old,
That bound the poppies on his eyes,
Until within her castle near
Their knights had borne him o'er the field,
His hand still clasp'd upon his sword,
And he outstretch'd on his own shield.
And there she woke him from the spell;
And, when the morrow's sun was bright,
All richly dress'd, the four fair queens
Assail'd the heart of this brave knight, --
King Arthur's sister, false Le Fay,
The Ladye of the North Countrie,
Eastland's proud queen, and she who ruled
The isles upon a distant sea.
But still the pleasure of his dream
Thrill'd through Sir Launcelot's waking hour;
Before the image of his love
All other charms had lost their power;
And so he hearken'd not their speech,
Or answer'd them with careless tone,
Till each, enraged, withdrew her suit,
And left him with his thoughts alone.
There is no cause like this on earth
To rouse a woman's slumbering ire,
To turn her fondest love to hate,
And kindle pride's enduring fire:
Crush her, condemn, insult, abuse,
She ne'er forsakes, and still loves on,
But scorn, neglect, and passion's slave,
She vengeance seeks, her patience gone!
And so they kept Sir Launcelot there
A prisoner, many a weary day,
Rust gathering on his armor bright,
He chafing at his idle stay.
But never once, in word or deed,
His sworn allegiance shook or swerved;
At Guinevere's fair shrine alone
He worshipp'd still, and Arthur served.
But when the queens relax'd a while
Their constant watch and steadfast guard,
Forth to his olden freedom then,
Through twelve strong locks, twelve gates close-barr'd,
A damsel guided him once more,
To battle for her father's sake;
And boldly was that promise kept
By good Sir Launcelot of the Lake.
Credits
Sallie Bridges

Sallie Bridges

About “Sir Launcelot’s Slumber” by Sallie Bridges

Read the complete lyrics to "Sir Launcelot’s Slumber" by Sallie Bridges from the album "Marble Isle, Legends of the Round Table, and Other Poems". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature.

"Sir Launcelot’s Slumber" is performed by Sallie Bridges. from the album "Marble Isle, Legends of the Round Table, and Other Poems" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Sir Launcelot’s Slumber", explore more songs by Sallie Bridges using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Sir Launcelot’s Slumber" is credited to Sallie Bridges. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Sir Launcelot’s Slumber" appears on "Marble Isle, Legends of the Round Table, and Other Poems".

Visit the Sallie Bridges artist page at /artist/sallie-bridges for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.