THE LADY OF SHALOTT. PART I. IN either side the river lie Long fields of barley and of rye, That clothe the wold and meet the sky; And thro' the field the road runs by And up and down the people go, Round an island there below, The island of Shalott. Willows whiten, aspens quiver, Flowing down to Camelot. Four gray walls, and four gray towers, And the silent isle imbowers The Lady of Shalott. By the margin, willow-veil'd, The shallop flitteth silken-sail'd Skimming down to Camelot : But who hath seen her wave her hand? Or at the casement seen her stand? Only reapers, reaping early Down to tower'd Camelot : And by the moon the reaper weary, Piling sheaves in uplands airy, Listening, whispers ""T is the fairy Lady of Shalott." PART II. THERE she weaves by night and day She has heard a whisper say, To look down to Camelot. She knows not what the curse may be, And little other care hath she, The Lady of Shalott. And moving thro' a mirror clear Winding down to Camelot : There the river eddy whirls, Sometimes a troop of damsels glad, Goes by to tower'd Camelot; And sometimes thro' the mirror blue The knights come riding two and two: |