Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/872

 LORD TENNYSON

Only reapers, reaping early In among the bearded barley, Hear a song that echoes chcerly From the river winding clearly,

Down to tower 'd Camelot: And by the moon the reaper weary, Piling sheaves in uplands airy, Listening, whispers * 'Tis the fairy

Lady of Shalott.'

��PART II

There she weaves by night and day A magic web with colours gay. She has heard a whisper say, A curse is on her if she stay

To look down to Camelot. She knows not what the curse may be, And so she weaveth steadily, And little other care hath she,

The Lady of Shalott.

And moving thro* a mirror clear That hangs before her all the year, Shadows of the world appear. There she sees the highway near

Winding down to Camelot: There the river eddy whirls, And there the surly village-churls, And the red cloaks of market girls,

Pass onward from Shalott.

�� �