<P> Gaily bedight, A gallant knight, In sunshine and in shadow, Had journeyed long, Singing a song, In search of Eldorado . 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 Eldorado . And, as his strength Failed him at length, He met a pilgrim shadow--"Shadow," said he, "Where can it be--This land of Eldorado?" "Over the Mountains Of the Moon, Down the Valley of the Shadow, Ride, boldly ride," The shade replied--"If you seek for Eldorado!" </P> <P> "Eldorado" is a poem written by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in April 1849 . </P> <P> The poem describes the journey of a "gallant knight" in search of the legendary El Dorado . The knight spends much of his life on this quest . In his old age, he finally meets a "pilgrim shadow" who points the way through "the Valley of Shadow". It was first published in the April 21, 1849, issue of the Boston - based The Flag of Our Union . </P> <P> The poem is a narrative made up of four six - line stanzas, known as sestets . Poe uses the term shadow in the middle of each stanza . The meaning of the word, however, changes with each use . First, it is a literal shadow, where the sun is blocked out . In the second, it implies gloom or despair . The third denotes a ghost . The final use, "the Valley of Shadow", references the "Valley of the Shadow of Death", possibly suggesting that Eldorado (or riches in general) does not exist in the living world, or may be extremely difficult to find in the physical realm . Eldorado can also be interpreted not as the worldly, yellowish metal, but as treasures that actually have the possibility of existence in the abode of spirits . These "spiritual" treasures are that of the mind: knowledge, understanding, and wisdom . </P>

Over the mountains of the moon down the valley of the shadow