https://historian.ansteorra.org/wiki/index.php?title=Chanson_d%E2%80%99Ansteorra&feed=atom&action=historyChanson d’Ansteorra - Revision history2024-03-28T08:57:07ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.41.0https://historian.ansteorra.org/wiki/index.php?title=Chanson_d%E2%80%99Ansteorra&diff=16340&oldid=prevZubeydah: Created page with "Category:Bardic Category:Timeline Chanson d’Ansteorra By Cadfan ap Morgan<BR> ''All rights reserved to the author. Permission to repost/reprint is not granted wi..."2021-06-13T23:47:28Z<p>Created page with "<a href="/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Bardic" title="Category:Bardic">Category:Bardic</a> <a href="/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Timeline" title="Category:Timeline">Category:Timeline</a> Chanson d’Ansteorra By <a href="/wiki/index.php?title=Cadfan_ap_Morgan" title="Cadfan ap Morgan">Cadfan ap Morgan</a><BR> ''All rights reserved to the author. Permission to repost/reprint is not granted wi..."</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>[[Category:Bardic]]<br />
[[Category:Timeline]]<br />
Chanson d’Ansteorra<br />
By [[Cadfan ap Morgan]]<BR><br />
''All rights reserved to the author. Permission to repost/reprint is not granted without the specific consent of the author.''<BR><br />
<BR><br />
They are many who say that knighthood’s flower<BR><br />
Belongs to a vanished, golden hour;<BR><br />
That Honor and Valour our age have forsaken,<BR><br />
That Chivalry sleeps, and will never awaken.<BR><br />
So say the masses – believe them not!<BR><br />
The Chevalier lives, and the grail is still sought!<BR><br />
A noble few still keep the Dream,<BR><br />
Hold Grace and Courage in high esteem,<BR><br />
Their hearts and minds to this cause bequeath,<BR><br />
And fealty owe to the Laurel Wreath.<BR><br />
Of this valiant host, full many abide<BR><br />
In a bountiful Kingdom, great and wide;<BR><br />
Forests of pine, and windswept plains<BR><br />
And mountains tall doth its borders contain.<BR><br />
A land where all keep company<BR><br />
With Courtesy, Honor and Chivalry.<BR><br />
Where warriors clash ‘midst the trumpets blare<BR><br />
Or gallantly court their ladies fair.<BR><br />
Where so many a noble deed is done,<BR><br />
‘Twould never know darkness, were Valour the sun!<BR><br />
A land where Bravery, Wisdom and Wit<BR><br />
With Courage and Courtliness all are met.<BR><br />
Yea, all that we love finds its avatar<BR><br />
In ANSTEORRA, the Land of the Star!<BR><br />
<BR><br />
In the Fourteenth Year of the Laurel’s Age<BR><br />
There lived a monarch, noble and sage;<BR><br />
King Theo of Mightrinwood was his name<BR><br />
And he ruled ATENVELDT, to its glory and fame!<BR><br />
Fearsome he was in the battle-strife<BR><br />
Defending his kingdom with heart and life;<BR><br />
Nor less was he famed for his counsel wise:<BR><br />
Both baron and scholar his words did prize.<BR><br />
So with Solomon’s wit, and a warrior’s hand,<BR><br />
And a father’s love he ruled his land.<BR><br />
Until one day, near the Lammas-tide<BR><br />
To ANSTEORRA King Theo did ride<BR><br />
A knightly contest of arms to see<BR><br />
At the Tournament of Chivalry.<BR><br />
And his nobles assembled throughout the land,<BR><br />
Knight and Baron and Castellan,<BR><br />
To STARGATE’s towers they made their way<BR><br />
To join their King on the tournament-day.<BR><br />
Chief among them was his vassal dear;<BR><br />
Prince Simonn of Amber, stalwart Chevalier!<BR><br />
And Princess Tessa, of radiant face,<BR><br />
Did honor Stargate with her beauty and grace.<BR><br />
Grandly the barony welcomed the two:<BR><br />
From tower and turret the banners flew,<BR><br />
And a score of trumpets resounded clear<BR><br />
As monarch and viceroy both rode near.<BR><br />
Joyfully met were the royal pair,<BR><br />
The King and the Prince, on that morning fair.<BR><br />
Two nobler peers there never were seen:<BR><br />
Tall they were, and of lordly mien,<BR><br />
Strong of limb and sage of mind –<BR><br />
Worthier rulers ye might not find.<BR><br />
And when the heralds did loudly cry<BR><br />
That the start of the lists was drawing nigh,<BR><br />
The Crown and the Coronet, side by side<BR><br />
In the shade of a pine tree did preside<BR><br />
Over the nobles assembled there,<BR><br />
And the combat they saw was without compare!<BR><br />
In gleaming mail were the warriors dressed,<BR><br />
On every helm a gilded crest,<BR><br />
An embroidered surcoat each noble wore,<BR><br />
And an oaken shield before him bore.<BR><br />
Time and again the heralds’ cry<BR><br />
Brought forth two nobles, their strengths to try.<BR><br />
They saluted the Coronet and Crown before<BR><br />
And the ladies whose favors they gallantly bore,<BR><br />
Then faced each other across the round<BR><br />
‘Til the marshal’s cry of “Lay on!” did sound.<BR><br />
Then two bright blades on high would flash<BR><br />
And sword met sword with a ringing clash!<BR><br />
The warriors traded stroke for stroke<BR><br />
To the noble sound of steel on oak.<BR><br />
None did belie their gentle birth:<BR><br />
With sword and shield they proved their worth!<BR><br />
Mighty the blows that were taken and given,<BR><br />
Helms were cratered, shields were riven,<BR><br />
Blades were broken, and mail was rent,<BR><br />
Vambrace and rerbarce were battered and bent.<BR><br />
Many a sword was notched, I trow,<BR><br />
For there was no want of a downright blow!<BR><br />
Time and again the sparks did fly<BR><br />
As the gentry for Honor and Glory did vie.<BR><br />
<BR><br />
But none were so valiant, in word and deed,<BR><br />
More faithful and true to the Laurel’s creed<BR><br />
Or showed more courage and skill in the fray<BR><br />
Than the Ansteorrans did that day.<BR><br />
The combatants were many, and noble to see,<BR><br />
The flower of Aten Chivalry,<BR><br />
A constellation of heroes withal –<BR><br />
Yet the Sable Star outshone them all!<BR><br />
King Theo watched, and marked him well<BR><br />
How the Ansteorrans did excel<BR><br />
In keeping the word of their knightly vow,<BR><br />
And he thought upon it, with furrowed brow.<BR><br />
<BR><br />
<BR><br />
So passed the day, as the lists were done,<BR><br />
And the revels began ere set of sun,<BR><br />
Lords and Ladies betook them all<BR><br />
In splendid array, to the feasting hall.<BR><br />
Grand was the banquet that autumn night.<BR><br />
With the King and the Prince, ‘twas a glorious sight;<BR><br />
A thousand candles burned bright and clear<BR><br />
As the gentry feasted, and made good cheer.<BR><br />
But then, in the midst of their revelry<BR><br />
A hush fell over the company<BR><br />
As King Theo arose from his golden throne<BR><br />
And bespake the Prince, in a royal tone:<BR><br />
“Oft have I heard of thy people’s fame:<BR><br />
In the farthest lands they have won acclaim,<BR><br />
But today they showed such valor, in sooth,<BR><br />
That the stories pale beside the truth.<BR><br />
My Knights and Barons your prowess have praised,<BR><br />
E’en so, this tournament leaves me amazed;<BR><br />
Ne’er saw I so many a gallant feat!<BR><br />
To reward such virtue were always meet.<BR><br />
Prince Simonn, as chief of your people, now speak”<BR><br />
For ANSTEORRA, what boon would you seek?<BR><br />
Come, ask in her name what you’d have of me:<BR><br />
Silver, or stallions of Araby,<BR><br />
Talents of gold, or serpentine –<BR><br />
Be it mine to give, it will surely be thine.”<BR><br />
From velvet cushion Prince Simonn arose,<BR><br />
Nobly and wisely his words he chose:<BR><br />
“Fair Sire, thy praise were ample reward;<BR><br />
‘Tis a vassal’s duty to serve his lord,<BR><br />
And if aught we have done has pleased you well<BR><br />
Then in honor and fame the reward will tell.<BR><br />
But it is yor command that I make a choice,<BR><br />
To ask for a boon with my people’s voice.<BR><br />
So be it: My Liege, though this Circlet I wear<BR><br />
Hath been ever my joy and honor to bear,<BR><br />
‘Tis my people’s wish, King Theo, that we<BR><br />
Be no longer a Principality.<BR><br />
The Black Star a Coronet now does grace,<BR><br />
But a kingly Crown is its rightful place.<BR><br />
Let this land that I love stand sovereign and free;<BR><br />
Lord, ANSTEORRA a kingdom should be!”<BR><br />
<BR><br />
A mighty tumult filled the hall,<BR><br />
Awed and amazed were the nobles all.<BR><br />
Some shouted acclaim for their noble Viceroy,<BR><br />
Embraced one another, or wept for joy.<BR><br />
From some came murmurs of doubt, instead.<BR><br />
“Prince Simonn hath grown too bold,” they said,<BR><br />
“No good will come of such reckless pride!”<BR><br />
But on Theo’s reply, they all did bide.<BR><br />
<BR><br />
King Theo kept him silent and still;<BR><br />
Answered his Prince neither good nor ill<BR><br />
While his peers and counselors around him drew;<BR><br />
Theo consulted his retinue.<BR><br />
Brief was their whispered debate, and then<BR><br />
They withdrew, and the King sat alone again.<BR><br />
Long and deeply he mused within.<BR><br />
Twisting his beard upon lip and chin,<BR><br />
And when at last he raised his head<BR><br />
His subjects hearkened, with hope and dread.<BR><br />
Thus the fateful words he spake:<BR><br />
“Prince Simonn, for mine and my people’s sake<BR><br />
You have labored long, and right loyally;<BR><br />
I have no vassal better than thee.<BR><br />
To part with thee were a grievous pain –<BR><br />
Yet methinks a greater prize we gain:<BR><br />
None can contain the Lion’s rage<BR><br />
Nor the noble Eagle long encage<BR><br />
So ANSTEORRA must take her place<BR><br />
‘Midst other nations, and nobly grace<BR><br />
The company of Kingdoms, aye,<BR><br />
The Black Star one day shall shine on high.<BR><br />
But for now, Prince Simonn, hear me well:<BR><br />
Send forth thine heralds, this news to tell.<BR><br />
All nobles, sound of limb and mind<BR><br />
Through the length and breadth of this land of thine<BR><br />
Should prepare themselves for a tournament day<BR><br />
In Bryn Gwlad, on the Twelfth of May.<BR><br />
To choose a King ye shall gather there,<BR><br />
By right of arms, in combat fair,<BR><br />
Then the status of Kingdom shall I grant thee –<BR><br />
Hear me all! It is my decree.<BR><br />
Such has thine honor and valor won:<BR><br />
So let it be written; so let it be done!”<BR></div>Zubeydah