The Well of St. Keyne
Robert Southey
1774 to 1843
Track 1
Reconstruct the poem by dragging each line into its correct position. Your goal is to reassemble the original poem as accurately as possible. As you move the lines, you'll see whether your arrangement is correct, helping you explore the poem's flow and meaning. Take your time, enjoy the process, and discover how the poet's words come together to create something truly beautiful.
Easy Mode - Auto check enabled
The happiest draught thou hast drank this day
For she took a bottle to Church."
"St. Keyne," quoth the Cornish-man, "many a time
He to the Cornish-man said:
"I hasten'd as soon as the wedding was done,
Ever here in Cornwall been?
There came a man from the house hard by
She has drank of the Well of St. Keyne."
God help the Husband then!"
But i' faith she had been wiser than me,
"You drank of the Well I warrant betimes?"
That ever thou didst in thy life.
And he bade the Stranger hail.
And before the Angel summon'd her,
Shall drink before his Wife,
At the Well to fill his pail;
Drank of this crystal Well,
An oak and an elm-tree stand beside,
"Now art thou a bachelor, Stranger?" quoth he,
"I have left a good woman who never was here."
"Or has thy good woman, if one thou hast,
And he sat down upon the bank
For from the cock-crow he had been travelling,
And a clearer one never was seen;
"But if the Wife should drink of it first,—
Under the willow-tree.
And drank of the water again.
And a willow from the bank above
And there was not a cloud in the sky.
For an if she have, I'll venture my life
And behind doth an ash-tree grow,
And sheepishly shook his head.
There is not a wife in the west country
A Well there is in the west country,
For he shall be Master for life.
Droops to the water below.
For thirsty and hot was he,
"But that my draught should be the better for that,
He drank of the water so cool and clear,
But the Cornish-man smiled as the Stranger spake,
A happy man thenceforth is he,
The Stranger stoopt to the Well of St. Keyne,
"If the Husband of this gifted Well
A traveller came to the Well of St. Keyne;
I pray you answer me why?"
On the Well-side he rested it,
And left my Wife in the porch;
She laid on the water a spell.
But has heard of the Well of St. Keyne.
Joyfully he drew nigh,
"For an if thou hast a wife,
The Stranger he made reply,