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)
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