Big Sir Gervaise, the good knight,
Fair Ellayne le Violet,
Mary, Constance fille de fay,
Many dames with footfall light.
Whosoever wander'd there,
Whether it be dame or knight,
Half of scarlet, half of white
Their raiment was; of roses fair
Each wore a garland on the head,
At Ladies' Gard the way was so;
Fair Jehane du Castel beau
Wore her wreath till it was dead.
Little joy she had of it,
Of the raiment white and red,
Or the garland on her head,
She had none with whom to sit
In the carven boat at noon;
None the more did Jehane weep,
She would only stand and keep
Saying, "He will be here soon."
Many times in the long day
Miles and Giles and Gervaise past,
Holding each some white hand fast,
Every time they heard her say:
"Summer cometh to an end,
Undern cometh after noon;
Golden wings will be here soon,
What if I some token send?"
