Gaily bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
...
A dark unfathomed tide
Of interminable pride-
A mystery, and a dream,
Should my early life seem;
...
Eldorado
Gaily bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.
But he grew old-
This knight so bold-
And o'er his heart a shadow
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.
And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow-
'Shadow, ' said he,
'Where can it be-
This land of Eldorado? '
'Over the Mountains
Of the moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride, '
The shade replied, -
'If you seek for Eldorado.'