**Based on the story of the marriage of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, as told by Howard Pyle in The Story of King Arthur and His Knights.**

*~*~*
 

'Twas a balmy, golden autumn day

Before the stroke of noon

Camelot its winding streets bedecked

And merry players piping tunes

 

Beneath the walls of Camelot

Behind the cold dark stone

King Arthur paced with worried steps

About His royal throne

 

Beside Him stood His royal knights

Chivalrous their mien

Gawaine, Erwaine, and Pellias,

And also Constantine*

 

These and many others there

A-waited on King Arthur

Ready for His next command

Ready for to greet Her

 

Behold! There came a messenger

Clad in crimson gold

And kneeling before the great young King

This the tale he told:

 

“My Lord, arise and be prepared

Make ready all you here!

For lo, She comes here unto you

Already She draws near.”

 

Then joyfully strode the noble King

Out of His castle then

And mounting there His snow-white horse

He rode with all His men

 

Great and wondrous was their company

As never seen before

That noble band of fearless knights

Knights of might and glore

 

And up along the winding road

A Court then came to meet them

Royal folk, and in their midst

Guinevere, like to a gem

 

The companies twain there met together

Upon the golden field

King Arthur's knights saluted high

Gleaming sun upon their shields

 

King Arthur leapt there off his horse

Advancing three steps further

Tall and strong with golden hair

And his sword Excalibur

 

Then opened wide the litter's flaps

Out came then the Queen

Dark of hair and clear of skin

And lips all smooth and sheen

 

Like morning sun doth touch the clouds

Was Her beauty then

Made more lovely by Her love

And awed were all those men

 

King Leodegrance then took Her hand

And set it in his Lord's

And as they kissed, the company

All cheered and drew their swords

 

And so they entered high Camelot

Entered to their wedding

Their love was destined not to cool

Nor like evening sun as setting

 

And coming with radiance from High Mass

The townsfolk cried them good cheer.

Always remember this day, the marriage

Of Arthur and Guinevere.

*~*~*~*

 

*Constantine here is pronounced “con-stan-teen” in order to fit the rhyme.