View source for Cantare del Cavalier

By: Sobremus
Posted on: October 29, 2004


"Cantare del Cavaliere"


- Canto Un -<br>

When shadows, dark, did cover the land<br>
'twas a Pentharian Knight who lent a hand<br>
He donned his armor and hilted his blade<br>
And to his fair lady, farewell he bade<br>
From the southeastern holylands, westward he rode<br>
Atop his white steed, with nary a load<br>
Along a dirt path, he steered that fair horse<br>
Looking for evil to vanquish of course<br>
And to what did fate bring the young lad<br>
But a Mhunnish village, frightened and death clad<br>
"What be't that troubles ye?" asked the Knight, with pride<br>
"The orcs, lord," the young Mhun, with a sigh, replied<br>
The Knight bellowed a laugh, and drew his great blade<br>
And vowed to protect the village from raid:<br>
"Here, tonight, I shall lie my head<br>
And if I hear orcs, I shall spring from my bed<br>
Slay every vandal, 'til the orcs have all fled<br>
And fill the hearts of their people with dread"<br>
And with this great boast, the Knight did lie down<br>
Waiting, in silence, for the first orcish sound<br>
When late in the night, the orcs did approach<br>
The Knight lay in wait, ready to poach<br>
When the battle-horn wailed, and the orc-lords roared<br>
The Knight stood alone, with no help to afford<br>
The firsts of the beasts charged with great might<br>
But were found lacking in Pentharian's light<br>
Stronger foes, yet, did challenge the Knight<br>
But inasmuch were destroyed in the ensuing fight<br>
Further still, advanced the warmongering brutes<br>
With their weapons held high but their fight without fruits<br>
One by one, the orcs were defeated<br>
By the sword of the Knight, who never retreated<br>
At last, the orc leader was the only remaining<br>
Still the Knight stood firm, though his body was paining<br>
With one last call the orc made a charge<br>
And ran to his death with his sword and targe<br>
The Knight raised his blade and with one great slash<br>
Took the head of the orc who fell with a crash<br>
"The battle is won! They'll raid ye no longer!"<br>
The Knight cried aloud having slain the warmongers<br>
At once all the halflings poured out of their homes<br>
And wrote the Knight's story in the most sacred of tomes<br>
"Please won't you stay? An honor it would be,"<br>
The Mhun chief offered, his eyes filled with glee<br>
Tired from travelling and preventing the pillage<br>
The Knight quickly agreed to rest in the village<br>
"I'll stay for the night, but tomorrow I ride,"<br>
The Knight, in all of his glory replied.
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