William Morris Archive

Early Morris Poems - Song from Golden Wings

Song from "Golden Wings"

Manuscript in HM 6479 Pub. CW, I, 291, 301-2.
Appeared in OCM, December, 1856, 739.

OCM, 739

   He was fair and free,
At every tourney
He wan the degree,
        Sir Guy the good knight.

  He wan Alys the fair,
The King’s own daughtere,
With all her gold hair,
      That shone well bright.

   He saved a good Knight,
Who also was wight,
And had wingès bright
      On a blue shield.

   And he slew the Knight,
Of the High Gard in fight,
In red weed that was dight
      In the open field.’

CW, I, 301-2

  "He was fair and free,
At every tourney
He wan the degree,
        Sir Guy the good knight.

  "He wan Alys the fair,
The King’s own daughtere,
With all her gold hair,
      That shone well bright.

   "He saved a good Knight,
Who also was wight,
And had wingès bright
      On a blue shield.

   "And he slew the Knight
Of the High Gard in fight,
In red weed that was dight
      In the open field."