Far from the triumphing court

1. Far from triumphing court, and wonted glory,
He dwelt in shady unfrequented places,
Time’s pris’ner now he made his pastime story,
Gladly forgets court’s erst afforded graces,
That goddess whom he serv’d to heav’n is gone,
And he on earth in darkness left to moan.

2. But lo a glorious light from his dark rest
Shone from the place where erst this goddess dwelt
A light whose beams the world with fruit hath bless’d
Bless’d was the knight while he that light beheld:
Since then a star fix’d on his head hath shin’d,
And a saint’s image in his heart is shrin’d.

3. Ravish’d with joy so grac’d by such a saint,
He quite forgot his cell and self denaid,
He thought it shame in thankfulness to faint,
Debts due to princes must be duly paid:
Nothing so hateful to a noble mind,
As finding kindness for to prove unkind.

4. But Ah! poor knight though thus in dream he ranged,
Hoping to serve this saint in form most meet,
Time with his golden locks to silver changed,
Hath with age-fetters bound him hands and feet,
Aye me! he cries, goddess my limbs grow faint,
Though I time’s prisoner be, be you my saint.