Toward the castle she made her way,
(Hardly yet was the sun on the sea)
Toward the castle she made her way;
Knight looked at knight and looked away;
The women had never a word to say.

She came to rest before the door,
(Hardly yet was the sun on the sea)
She came to rest before the door;
They heard the queen as she paced the floor,
And the king that asked her what would she.

'What do you seek, O where do you go?
(Have a care, it is hard to see)
What do you seek, O where do you go?
Doth one await you there below?'
But never a word, a word spake she.

Down she went to the one unknown,
(Have a care, it is hard to see)
Down she went to the one unknown,
And round the queen her arms were thrown;
Never a word did either say;
Without a word they went their way.

The king wept by the open door,
(Have a care, it is hard to see)
The king wept by the open door;
They heard the footsteps of the queen,
And the fall of the leaves where she had been.