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GAILY bedight,
A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.
But he grew old —
This knight so bold —
And o'er his heart a shadow
Fell [[,]] as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.
And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow —
“Shadow,” said he,
“Where can it be —
This land of Eldorado?”
“Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,”
The shade replied, —
“If you seek for Eldorado!”
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Notes:
Poe also mentions Eldorado in “Introduction [Romance]” and “Dream-Land.” In rhyming “Eldorado” and “shadow,” one must remember that Poe likely had a slight Southern drawl, even after years of living in more Northern climes.
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[S:1 - WORKS, 1850] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - Works - Poems - Eldorado (Reprint)