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!”