My sisters wore; I wore but white:
Red, brown, and white, are three;
Three damozels; each had a knight,
When the Sword went out to sea.
Sir Robert shouted loud, and said.
When the Sword went out to sea,
"Alicia, while I see thy head,
What shall I bring" for thee?"
" O, my sweet lord, a ruby red:"
The Sword went out to sea.
Sir Miles said, while the sails hung down.
When the Sword went out to sea,
"Oh, Ursula! while I see the town,
What shall I bring for thee?"
"Dear knight, bring back a falcon brown:"
The Sword went out to sea.
But my Roland, no word he said
When the Sword went out to sea;
But only turn'd away his head,—
A quick shriek came from me:
"Come back, dear lord, to your white maid;"—
The Sword went out to sea.
The hot sun bit the garden-beds,
When the Sword came back from sea;
Beneath an apple-tree our heads
Stretched out toward the sea;
Grey gleam'd the thirsty castle-leads,
When the Sword came back from sea.
