she gave to me this swatch of red
as we left the city to meet
the cursed enemy in battle
'fight bravely this day Sir Knight'
she said as she tied the swatch to my arm
'fight bravely and may God be with thee. . .
then, when battle is over and victory is won
return to me, before the setting of the sun'

'I thank thee for thy favor Lady Fair'
said I as I stopped to accept her gift
'and on my honor and by my sword I pledge to thee
that in thy name I shall fight this day
until no longer doth the enemy abide
until our lands are once again free
and when battle is over and victory is won
I shall return to thee, before the setting of the sun'

she smiled, and in her eyes of green
I saw the heart of this Lady Fair
a heart as red as the band on my arm
a heart that beat with a love for all time
a heart that I would gladly give my life for
a life that I would gladly give my heart for

across the field, there they appeared
the cursed enemy in all of the wretched glory
taunting us with cries of 'Cowards!'
daring us to fight
then came the order to charge
touching the swatch one final time, I gave a prayer
pledging my life, and this fight
to God and this Lady Fair

on and on the battle raged
comrade and enemy both fell by
point of arrow and of sword
but in my mind, her eyes of green
drove me on
and the swatch of red 'round my arm
seemed to beat with the love in her heart
giving me the strength to fight
and the will to go on

'return to me before the setting of the sun'

the last of the cursed enemy now vanquished
we returned to the castle, the battle won
but we came back just as came the setting sun
I rushed to find her in her home
she was there, but dying and quite ill
poisioned by water the enemy had tainted
her color gone, save for eyes of green
'thou hast returned to me, my Knight, my love. . .
and with those words, she breathed her last
and her soul returned to our God above

now, preparing for another battle
I place the swatch of red 'round my arm
and again I offer the prayer
pledging my life and this fight
to my God and to my Lady Fair
for now I fight not for Kingdom or God above
but for a Lady's Favor
and a Maiden's love. . .

Art:  A Lady's Favor or God Speed Edmund Blair Leighton, 1900

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