The Prisoner Knight

THE PRISONER KNIGHT

I sit in silence under the dungeon's wicket;
One could see the blue sky from here:
Free and easy, birds are playing in the air;
Watching them, I feel a painful shame.

There's no sinful prayer on my lips,
There's no song praising my gracious dame:
All I remember are horrible battles,
My heavy sword and my iron armor.

I am enfettered now in stone armor,
A stone helmet presses down on my head,
My shield is impervious to arrows and swords,
My horse is running, unsteered.

Quick time is my loyal horse,
My helmet's visor: the porthole bars;
My stone armor: the high walls;
My shield: the iron doors of the dungeon.

Race faster, thou fleeting time!
I suffocate under this new armor!
Death, as we shall arrive, would help me dismount,
And finally I'll tear off the vizard from my face.

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