One fares in the flaunt of a scholar’s cloak,
And a velvet hat and plume;
Two ride with eyes fixed on the ground,
And one with a face of gloom.
One laughs at the others and laughs at himself,
Two think of themselves alone;
One sees a goal for his thirsting soul,
And life as a stepping stone.
They pass through a village where
Some boys are flying kites.
The people come with food and wine
To entertain the Knights.
And one takes bread and one takes cake,
Three drink a little wine.
And two drink for their heart’s delight,
And one for an anodyne.
And the Knight in red slips off to a tavern
And drinks him deep and strong,
And then he hurries to catch his fellows
And hails them with a song.
They come to a village that lay
Within a King’s domains:
The Knight in yellow takes his sword
And strikes away the chains.
They come to a place of festival
Through which there passed a hearse:
The Knight in black reins in his steed
To look thereon and curse.
They come to a hall of curious books
Under a mountain peak:
The Knight in the scholar’s cloak goes in
And talks with them in Greek.
And all the way by the winding river
By heaven’s breeze unfurled
The tiger banner and dragon banner
Flutter around the world.
As night drew down they come to a palace
Of laughter, lights and din.
Says the Knight in red, “I tarry here,
For I hear the violin.”