Quest
Hymnal Index | Ship's Company Website
Rudyard Kipling
The knight came home from the quest
Muddied and sore he came
Battered of shield and crest, Bannerless, bruised and lame.
Fighting we take no shame; Better is man for a fall
Merrily-borne, the bugle-horn Answered the warder's call.
Here is my lance to mend
And here is my horse to be shot
Aye, they were strong and the fight it was long
But I paid as good as I got
I paid as good as I got.
Oh dark and deep their van That mocked my battle-cry
I could not miss my man But I could not carry by.
Utterly whelmed was I Flung under horse and all
Merrily borne, the bugle-horn Answered the warder's call.
My wounds are noised abroad But theirs my foeman cloaked
Ye can see my broken blade But never the blade she broke
Paying them stroke for stroke Good handsel over all.
Merrily borne, the bugle-horn Answered the warder's call.
My shame ye count and know Ye say my quest was in vain
But ye have not seen my foe Ye have not told his slain
Surely he fights again, again, But when ye prove his line
There shall come to your aid my broken blade
In the last, long fight of mine!