Once, in times forgotten,
In a fairy place,
Through the steppe, a
Made his way apace.
While he sped to battle,
Nearing from the
Distance, a dark
Rose ahead of him.
Something kept repeating,
Seemed his heart to graze:
Tighten up the saddle,
Fear the watering-place.
But he did not listen.
Heeding but his will,
At full speed he
Up the wooded hill;
Rode into a valley,
Turning from the mound,
Galloped through a meadow,
Skirted higher ground;
Reached a gloomy hollow,
Found a trail to
Down the woodland
To the watering-place.
Deaf to voice of warning,
And without remorse,
Down the slope, the
Led his thirsty horse.
Where the stream grew shallow,
Winding through the glen,
Eerie flames lit up
Entrance to a den.
Through thick clouds of
Smoke above the spring,
An uncanny
Made the forest ring.
And the rider started,
And with peering
Urged his horse in
To the haunting cry.
Then he saw the dragon,
And he gripped his lance;
And his horse stood
Fearing to advance.
Thrice around a
Was the serpent wound;
Fire-breathing
Cast a glare around.
And the dragon's
Moved his scaly neck,
At her shoulder
Whiplike forth and back.
By that country's
Was a young and
Captive brought as
To the dragon's lair.
This then was the
That the people
To the
For a poor abode.
Now the dragon hugged
Victim in alarm,
And the coils grew
Round her throat and arm.
Skyward looked the
With imploring glance,
And for the
Fight he couched his lance.
Tightly closing eyelids.
Heights and cloudy spheres.
Rivers.
Waters.
Boulders.
Centuries and years.
Helmetless, the
Lies, his life at stake.
With his hooves the
Tramples down the snake.
On the sand, together-Dragon, steed, and lance;
In a swoon the rider,
The maiden-in a trance.
Blue the sky; soft
Tender noon caress.
Who is she?
A lady?
Peasant girl?
Princess?
Now in joyous
Cannot cease to weep;
Now again
To unending sleep.
Now, his strength returning,
Opens up his eyes;
Now anew the
Limp and listless lies.
But their hearts are beating.
Waves surge up, die down;
Carry them, and waken,
And in slumber drown.
Tightly closing eyelids.
Heights and cloudy spheres.
Rivers.
Waters.
Boulders.
Centuries and years.
