Bedivere's Promise

At Camlann, where King Arthur fell, his last request he spake:
“Take Excalibur and throw it deep into the lake…”
(This duty being taken by the trusted Bedivere)
“…and once it’s done, what happens next return to tell me here.”

“Take Excalibur and throw it deep into the lake…”
But Bedivere, at water’s side, paused long for his king’s sake.
“…and once it’s done, what happens next return to tell me here.”
He hid the sword, for England’s heir, then back to Arthur’s ear.

But Bedivere, at water’s side, paused long for his king’s sake;
The sword should yet survive for a worthy successor to take.
He hid the sword, for England’s heir, then back to Arthur’s ear.
“Did you do as I have asked?” quizzed Arthur as he drew near.

The sword should yet survive for a worthy successor to take -
So Bedivere’s promise to his dying king did break.
“Did you do as I have asked?” quizzed Arthur as he drew near.
He lied - “Aye, Lord, and crying birds is all that I did hear.”

So Bedivere’s promise to his dying king did break,
But thought he’d done so for the best, although his heart did ache.
He lied - “Aye, Lord, and crying birds is all that I did hear.”
Then angry Arthur accused his friend of being insincere.

He thought he’d done so for the best, although his heart did ache -
Regretting he had broken on the promise he did make.
When angry Arthur accused his friend of being insincere,
Once again down to the water’s side went Bedivere.

Regretting he had broken on the promise he did make,
The king commanded that the sword be given to the lake.
Once again down to the water’s side went Bedivere -
But could not throw the royal blade into the waters clear.

The king commanded that the sword be given to the lake,
Once more the trusted Bedivere’s conscience took a shake.
He could not throw the royal blade into the waters clear -
“I saw the sun bright on the waves” heard King and friend so dear.

Once more the trusted Bedivere’s conscience took a shake
When this, his second lie caused King Arthur’s voice to quake.
“I saw the sun bright on the waves” heard King and friend so dear.
Replied the king, “If you love me you’ll do this task you fear.”

When this, his second lie caused King Arthur’s voice to quake,
Bedivere resolved himself, as their friendship was at stake.
Replied the king, “If you love me you’ll do this task you fear”
And once again at water’s edge this trusted friend appear'd.

Bedivere resolved himself, as their friendship was at stake
He took Excalibur to throw into the waiting lake.
So once again at water’s edge this trusted friend appear'd
And this time hurled away the blade so loyally revered.

He took Excalibur to throw into the waiting lake
And with a prayer, the sword held high, something did awake.
When this time hurled away the blade so loyally revered,
Out of the lake and catching fast a woman’s hand appear'd.

“And with a prayer, the sword held high, something did awake…”
(This did Bedivere report when to the king he spake)
“Out of the lake, and catching fast a woman’s hand appeared.
Three times saluted then was gone to leave the surface cleared.”

This duty being taken by the trusted Bedivere,
The knight had proved to Arthur he had faithfully adhered.
At Camlann, where King Arthur fell (his last request he spake),
The thankful monarch closed his eyes, ne’er to re-awake.