Tuesday 8 October 2013

For the Coronation of King Thorbjorn Osis, 06 May A.S. XXX

By Master Hector of the Black Height

Oars!
Let backs swift strain against the oars
Like arms have strained against the pell;
We strike forth fast to southern shores
Where legends loud we soon will tell,
Of our own making, ours and his.
Pull the oar, now pull and glide,
We soon shall reach the southern side
Where we will land and then shall sing:
Today my Jarl becomes our King,
Today my Jarl becomes our King.

Arms!
Let our swords rest while oars we pull,
For soon bright blades shall rest no more;
Our horns with ale a Queen will fill
To quench the thirst of men at war;
A mighty thirst that, ours and his.
Draw the burnished blades anew
That all the Southron folk will view
When we do land and proudly sing:
Today my Jarl becomes our King,
Today my Jarl becomes our King.

Voices!
Let milk-white clouds sail on our cheers,
Let skalds seek out new words of praise.
Tales of this dawn will ring for years,
Let none forget this day of days;
A day of glory, ours and his.
Hear our voices, battle-wise,
This day which let forth triumph cries
As to far shores his ship we bring:
Today my Jarl becomes our King,
Today my Jarl becomes our King.

Names!
Let these proud names be heard again;
Raedmund, Berus, Worrigen,
Grimbold, Mort and Horgarth Thegn,
Nolgen, Zadok, Etien;
Let heroes' names ring, ours and his.
Urich, Pile and Jock, men sworn
To stand and fall with Thorbjorn,
Which buys the right these words to sing:
Today my Jarl becomes our King,
Today my Jarl becomes our King.

Legends!
Today let skald-fame ring and grow
As fits a day of triumph bright
For Robert Fitzhugh's squire does go
To take the crown that is his right
As honour marks it, ours and his.
With Dagan, Rolac, Coley stands
The chieftain o'er the warrior bands
Whose foes shall feel the ash-wood sting;
Today my Jarl becomes our King,
Today my Jarl becomes our King.

Hearts!
Soon to a King we shall be squired
And to the Crown we shall be sworn;
By Valthjona now inspired,
For Caitlin these proud surcoats borne,
The black and silver, our and his.
Arnora's grace and Utsi's smiles
Will cheer us o'er the many miles
As we to such hearts tribute bring;
Today my Jarl becomes our King,
Today my Jarl becomes our King.

Land!
The roar of surf upon the sand
Is drowned by voices roaring loud;
As oars are shipped, with swords to hand
We peer across the cheering crowd
Who offer welcome, ours and his.
Harcourt's face, Ihashi's cheers
Are with them too, across the years
That rich with legends new take wing;
Today my Jarl becomes our King,
Today my Jarl becomes our King.

(copyright Arthur McLean 1991-2000)

No comments:

Post a Comment