Sir Halfdan Haroldsson

Sir Halfdan Haroldsson
fallen in Spring Crown Tourney, A. S. XLIV


Fornyrðislag


From far cold climes             Comes Halfdan Haroldsson
Seeking good fortune            Fame for great deeds
Journeys to fair Caid             Jewel of the Known World
Like Constantinople              Land of his boyhood


A crown for the taking          A kingdom to rule
Tempting to Halfdan            To try his sword hand
Eager for battle                      Against great warriors
Fighters of renown                From many lands hailing


Steps forth Ilia                       Stalwart bodyguard
Man of the Rus                     Merchant protector
Falls to Haroldsson              Felled by the dragon
Another steps forward        Answers his challenge


Ketill the armoror                Keen to test his meddle
Fights bravely but                 Falls to Halfdan’s blows
Buoyed by his fortune         ‘Burdened by victory
Halfdan calls out Rhys        Horseman of Ravenscroft


The fighting goes fiercely    The foeman triumphant
Suffering the loss                  Steady Halfdan fights on
Caid’s lands                           Call to the Varangian
Another fighter now            Answers the call


Christian, a knight               Closely matched in skills
A worthy opponent             A warrior seasoned
Proves Halfdan’s undoing  Unlooked for outcome
Halfdan is bested                 Heralds proclaim it


Thus ends the saga of          Throne-seeking Halfdan
Far-traveled warrior            Fit for great battles
Another is destined to         Attain the Crescent Crown
Dragon-blazoned Halfdan   Dreams of future victories


--Pippin Skylark


...always tart and crisp


Spring'10

Sir Mons von Goarshausen

Sir Mons von Goarshausen
fallen in Spring Crown Tourney, A.S. XLIV

(Rondel)


By rosemary we’ll know the one
The fates have smiled upon this day.
Sir Mons had hopes to end his run
In rosemary

But Snorri worked to bar his way--
A rabbit bounding in the sun.
A butterfly flew out to play--

He swatted Rudolph just for fun,
And Valrik’s dragon hit the clay.
'Til Vlad killed dreams that had begun
With rosemary.

— Mistress Philippa Llewelyn Schuyler

...is a 15th century Burgundian wool merchant who thinks she a 10th century Viking weaver.

Spring'10

Conde Francesc Miguel Joaquim Inacio

Conde Francesc Miguel Joaquim Inacio
fallen in Fall Crown Tourney, A.S. XLV

The Running of the Bull
(a pantoum)

From Nordwache, the land of silver trees
A mighty bull embarks upon a quest.
To crown his lady with a wreath his geas;
To prove his right to rule by martial test.

A mighty bull enbarks upon a quest
The valley of the serephim the place
To prove his right to rule by martial test
He faces off a pack of wolves with grace.

The valley of the serephim the place
Where some have come to die and some to kill.
He faces off a pack of wolves with grace
And lands a blow that deals a deathly chill.

Where some have come to die and some to kill
--The nature of the game he’s come to play--
He lands a blow that deals a deathly chill;
Then leaves a demi-maid in disarray.

The nature of the game he’s come to play:
To face a friend across a tourney field,
Then leave a demi-maid in disarray
To sally forth again with sword and shield.

To face a friend across a tourney field:
A screaming eagle, talons dripping red.
To sally forth again with sword and shield
He's wounded sore, life hanging by a thread.

A screaming eagle, talons dripping red
Lays low the bull, his head-long charge assailed.
He's wounded sore, life hanging by a thread...
But this is not the end of the bull’s tale.

Laid low the bull, his head-long charge assailed.
Rise once more to gore a man a’horse.
But this is not the end of the bull’s tale
Though horseman puts an end to the bull’s course.

Rise once more to gore a man a’horse
--Flesh may fail, but ever spirit willing--
Though horseman puts an end to the bull’s course
Spring will bring Francesc more battles thrilling.

Flesh may fail, but ever spirit willing
To Crown his lady with a wreath his geas.
Spring will bring Francesc more battles thrilling
From Nordwache, the land of silver trees.

—Mistress Philippa Llewelyn Schuyler

...weaver of words and wadmal.

Fall'10