The Poem of the Dragon and the Falcon
by Donna Anabel Ravaya de Guzman
from the July 1998 Seahorse
The Crown of fair Oriente is soon to need an Heir.
The call is made to baronies and shires everywhere.
In haste all travel southward, the nobles true and fair
,
To Ostgardr the Crown Province to test their mettles there.
The sun shines hot upon them before the tierce is read.
Brave fighters, good and true with their consorts wise and fair
Bend knee and pay their homage to the good Queen Gabrielle.
They kneel and show their fealty to Timothy El Rey.
King Timothy bids all to fight with honor and with grace.
Oriente's finest battle, bravely giving of their best.
Among the bold combatants three would pass the final tests:
For Jolie de Valiere, swift Sir Balin does contend,
A David toe-to-toe with two Goliaths on the lists.
With two swords and his speed he fells Duke Brion and seems blest--
No other man has done so in all this day's contest.
But he falls to Sir Andreas, who fights for Isabel,
The Falcon of the Blood Guard, whose strength does serve him well.
Then clouds so thick and dark roll in and drive all to their tents,
Then just as quickly fly away, a bully's empty threats.
The Falcon fights the Dragon who hails from Atenveldt.
Their pole arms clash, Duke Brion lands a blow to Eisfalke's helm.
Their great swords and their shields cross, the Falcon starts to press.
His sword catches the elbow of his worthy vier's plate.
With grace he takes no victory. "There was no force," he says.
The Falcon's grace and chivalry do please his Baroness.
Duke Brion Tarragon now for Oriente's crown contends.
He fights for Duchess Anna, beloved and flawless gem.
He presses ever forward, all with a broken hand.
That hand which holds his great sword her honor will defend.
The Dragon downs the Falcon and then kneels down as well.
Upon their knees they battle, their clash by all is heard.
A blow to Falcon's body and Oriente has an Heir.
Prince Brion is the victor, now nine will be his reigns.
May he and Princess Anna and their sons all honor gain.
These deeds upon the new year, our thirty-third, occurred.
May God have mercy on us, and here my tale ends.
Written by my hand in the month of May, A.S. XXXIII in the Crown Province of Ostgardr.
The Artist Explains....
I set out to write a recounting of the recent Crown Tournament using the style of the Poem of the Cid of 12th Century Castile. The language is simple, using mostly the historical present tense, with little ornamentation. The versification relies mainly on rhythm and assonance.
The Poem of the Cid is divided into three parts, cantares, which are further divided into groups of lines, laises, all ending on the same vowel sound. Individual laises can have anywhere from five to 150 lines or more. In the interest of space and sanity my work has but one laise of 36 lines.
Though enjoyable, it was difficult to force the rhythm of a 12th century Castilian laise onto the lingua franca of our Current Middle Ages, and to have each line end in something approaching the phonetic short e sound. My apprentice sister suggested I write the piece in 12th century Castilian, but I'm nowhere near that level of ability now. The day I can write a national epic poem in its original language is the day my hair sprouts bay leaves, methinks. :) I hope this work is to your liking.
Post Scriptus: "Oriente" is Spanish for "East Land". It is also the old name for the easternmost province of Cuba. The rhythm patterns used for each line are the two which I found predominant in the Poema del Cid:
's': soft, 'h': hard syllabic emphasis
s H s s s H s (pause) s H s s s H
and
s H s s s H s (pause) s-s H s s s H
Source:
Poem of the Cid. Menendez Pidal, Ramon and Merwin, W.S., translators.
Meridian Books, 1975.
Al servicio de la Provincia y el Colegio,
Dona Ana Ravaya de Guzman
Bard of the Province of Ostgardr