The Well of St Keyne-Robert Southey

THE WELL OF ST KEYNE

A traveller came to the well of St Keyne;

Pleasant it was to his eye,

For from cock-crow he had been travelling

And there was not a cloud in the sky.

He drank of the water so cool and clear,\

For thirsty and hot was he,

And he sat down upon the bank,

Under the willow tree.

There came a man from the neighbouring town

At the well to fill his pail,

On the well-side he rested it,

And bade the stranger hail.

'Now art thou a bachelor, stranger?' quoth he,

'For if thou has a wife,\

The happiest draught thou hast drunk this day

That ever thou didst in thy life.

'Or has your good woman, if one you have,

In Cornwall ever been?

For if she have, I'll venture my life

She has drunk of the well of St Keyne.'

'I have left a good woman who never was here,'

The stranger he made reply;

'But that my draught should be better for that,

I pray you answer me why.'

'St Keyne,' quoth the countryman, 'many a time

Drank of this crystal well,

And before the angel summoned her

She laid on the water a spell.

'If the husband of this gifted well

Shall drink before his wife,

A happy man henceforth is he,

For he shall be master for life.

'But if the wife should drink of it first,

Heaven help the husband then!'

The stranger stooped to the well of St Keyne,

And drank of the waters again.

'You drank of the well, I warrant, betimes?'

He to the countryman said,

But the countryman smiled as the stranger spake,

And sheepishly shook his head.

'I hastened as soon as the wedding was done,

And left my wife in the porch.

But i' faith she had been wiser than me,

For she took a bottle to church.'

ROBERT SOUTHEY

Summary: 'The Well of St Keyne' is a narrative poem written by Robert Southey. The poem tells the story of a traveller who arrives at the well of St Keyne after a long journey. The traveller finds the well to be pleasant, with clear water and a cloudless sky.

Felling thirst and hot, the traveller drinks from the well and rests under a willow tree. Soon, a man from a nearby town comes to the well to fill his pail. He strikes up a conversation with the stranger and asks if he is married. The man explains that he has left his wife behind and questions why his drink from the well should be significant.

The countryman then reveals the legend associated with the well of St Keyne. According to the legend, St Keyne herself had drunk from the well and blessed it with a special power. If a husband drinks from the well before his wife, he will be the master of their relationship and enjoy a happy life. However, if the wife drinks first, the husband is said to be in trouble.

Amused by the tale, the stranger decides to test the legend and drinks from the well once again. He asks the countryman if he had also drunk from the well earlier, implying that he must be a married man. The countryman, however, sheepishly admits that he hurriedly left his wedding ceremony and left his wife waiting for him. To the traveller's surprise, the countryman's wife had been clever enough to bring a bottle of the water to the church, ensuring that she drank from the well before her husband.

The poem humorously highlights the power dynamics in relationships and the unexpected wit of the countryman's wife. It suggests that a happy marriage requires mutual understanding and cleverness rather than reliance on a magical well.