When I set out for Lyonnesse
A hundred miles away,
The rime was on the spray;
And starlight lit my lonesomeness
When I set out for Lyonnesse
A hundred miles away.
What would bechance at Lyonnesse
While I should sojourn there,
No prophet durst declare;
Nor did the wisest wizard guess
What would bechance at Lyonnesse
While I should sojourn there.
When I returned from Lyonnesse
With magic in my eyes,
All marked with mute surmise
My radiance rare and fathomless,
When I returned from Lyonnesse
With magic in my eyes.
Summary
As a young architect, the poet went to Lyonnesse to supervise the renovation work of the church. The place was 100 miles away. It was winter. The leaves were covered with snow. He was alone and shaky. His only companion was the star-light.
He was unsure what situation he would have to face there during his stay in Lyonnesse. No seer could dare make a forecast. Even the wisest magician could not make guess about future.
But when he returned from that place, he was very happy. His eyes shone with joy. Everybody tried silently to guess the reason of his deep and uncommon happiness.