Li Bel Chasteus

That castle stands the highest in the land Far seen and mighty. Of the great hewn stones What shall I say? And deep foss way That far beneath us bore of old A swelling turbid sea Hill-born and tumultuous Unto the fields below, where Staunch villein and Burgher held the land and tilled Long labouring for gold of wheat grain And to see the beards come forth For barley's even time.

But archèd high above the curl of life We dwelt amid the ancient boulders, Gods had hewn and druids turned Unto that birth most wondrous, that had grown A mighty fortress while the world had slept, And we awaited in the shadows there When mighty hands had laboured sightlessly And shaped this wonder 'bove the ways of men. Me seems we could not see the great green waves Nor rocky shore by Tintagoel From this our hold, But came faint murmuring as undersong, E'en as the burghers' hum arose And died as faint wind melody Beneath our gates.