- Gaily bedight,
- A gallant knight
- In sunshine and in shadow,
- Had journeyed long,
- Singing a song,
- In search of El Dorado.
- 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 El Dorado.
- And, as his strength
- Failed him at length,
- He met a pilgrim shadow --
- "Shadow," said he,
- "Where can it be --
- This land of El Dorado?"
- "Over the Mountains
- Of the Moon,
- Down the Valley of the Shadow,
- Ride, boldly ride,"
- The shade replied --
- "If you seek for El Dorado."
Matt read books and poems of all types but this was one of his favorites.
