Ancient days of chivalry,
Tournament and falconry;
Ladies fair and barons bold;
Thrilling days, those days of old.
Battled towers and moated steeps,
Turret walls and donjon keeps,
Drawbridge closed and warder grave,
Retainers numerous and brave.
Mailed sentries keeping guard,
Troubadour and minstrel bard
Singing lays 'neath lady's bower,
Serenades at evening hour.
Thrilling days, those days of old,
For ladies fair and warriors bold.
See! a pageant passes by,
In all the pride of chivalry;
Armed knights on chargers gay,
Warriors eager for the fray.
Burnished helm and glittering lance,
In the golden sunshine glance;
Parting words from lady fair,
Tress of dark or golden hair.
Badge on arm, a woven band,
Parting gift from her fair hand;
The knight departs for fields of France,
To win his fair by spear and lance.
Gone those days of pageantry,
Valor and knight-errantry;
Only battle that of life;
Race for wealth the keenest strife.
Love and truth and honor sold,
Bartered for the gain of gold.
Fair ones' hearts not now are won
By deeds of daring nobly done.
Only battle, that of life.
Need it be ignoble strife?
Human hearts are battle-plains,
Where passions rage and warfare reigns.
Foemen ranged on either side:
Hate and Love, Forgiveness, Pride,
Strength and Weakness, Dread and Might;
Direst battles those to fight.
Greatest victors those who win
Conquest over Self and Sin.