A noble knight concealed in plate
Went boldy out to fight
His armor polished to the full
It glittered in the light
His sword was swift, his lance was sharp
His steed was tried and true
The princess’ token rode with him
A silken scarf of blue
Upon a horse across the field
In armor dark as night
Opponent for the days contest
Also prepared to fight
The tournament was at an end
One final match remained
The victor would claim royal troth
While loser would be maimed
The horses tense and then burst forth
Then lance tip meets with shield
But neither man has fallen off
And weapons still they wield
The roundabout is made once more
And lances crash again
But nothing more will happen yet
The tie they will maintain
And while the fight happens below
The princess in the stands
Applauds and cheers the shining knight
She victory demands
Bearing the princess favored blue
The knight turns round once more
And in the pass the black clad man
Is knocked down to the floor
But fallen though the man may be
And cheering are the stands
He won’t submit, and won’t yet quit
And slowly then he stands
With unsheathed sword the man in black
Prepares to fight on still
The gleaming knight bears down on him
And channels all his skill
But then the shadow knight tossed out
A weapon that was new
And mist of sickly yellow-green
Out of a cup it blew
The horse though noble for itself
Could not abide the fog
And tossing rider to the ground
It left at a brisk jog
The knight who bore the scarf of blue
Arose and saw his foe
The midnight wraith’s malice was such
That no man ought to know
But keen the swords and fast the feet
The duelists circled round
A feint, a thrust, a slice, a dodge
But no weakness was found
And as the princess watched the fight
There rose a sense of dread
For if her champion would lose
He surely would be dead
And cried alound to man below
“Defeat the monster now
Defend yourself to save your life
Nay, do not fail me now”
As if in answer to her voice
The knight in silver sprang
He smote a blow upone his foe
And sword on armor rang
And then again the sound rang out
And once again he struck
And soon the black clad knight was down
Denied both tricks and luck
Facing his now assured defeat
In dented dark armor
He ceded victory to he
Who wanted vict’ry more
And with her champion on the field
In joy she nearly trips
The princess leaves the tourney stands
To kiss him on the lips