Mikilalekskvitha
From EastKingdomWiki
The literal translation of the title is "The Poem of Big Alex," "Big Alex" is the nickname of Sir Alexander de Hauteville.
This is an account of the serving the write to, and the knighting of that noble warrior, which took place AS 41. It was commissioned by Anghared y Rhosyn ferch Rhian as a gift. It was written by Grim the Skald in the Old Norse style of Fornyrthislag
Practice was called | in province north | |
To make ready | for Mid-realm war | |
At end of the day | of armed contest | |
The hirð[1] was hailed, | heralds beckoned | |
Good king Brion | greeted his court | |
“At King’s command | come now Alex!” | |
“I summon you | to yearly war | |
On Pennsic plain | your peers to join | |
The noble knights | name you worthy | |
Your bravery earns | a belt and spurs!” | |
To kingly call | crickets answered | |
Hall was silent | heralds were still | |
Honored Alex | was absent that day | |
He had not gone | to games of war | |
He traveled instead | to teach children | |
Show them the might | of a man of the sword | |
Show them the way | of a warrior true | |
And fuel the future | forces of the East. | |
A cunning plan | the king made then | |
Brion then beckoned | brave Alex to hearth | |
The King did say | ‘twas sword-practice | |
To Tarragon Hall[2] | hied this shield-Tyr[3] | |
Brion then smiled | bade Alex kneel | |
“Your strength of arm | your strength of will | |
And strength of heart[4] | have stirred us all | |
Now heed your king | come to Pennsic!” | |
“There will you answer | what ask I here | |
‘twixt baldric and belt | I bid you choose. | |
To serve kingdom | and carry its might | |
And not to spurn | the spurs offered?” | |
Though Alex does stand | like a stony wall, | |
Ne’er does he falter | in fierce spear-clash | |
Here did he shake | with humble awe | |
And almost did fall | so moved he felt | |
These words then first | fell from his lips: | |
“You shall without fail | find me at Pennsic | |
Nothing shall stop | my steps to that place | |
Answer there I’ll give | to all our land.” | |
Alex then journeyed | to jewel-bright field | |
Fiercely he fought | the foes of the East | |
In Pennsic keep | he kept vigil | |
In the bright morning | Brion came to him | |
Three peers did speak | and praised Alex | |
A fourth stood then | a stately Duke | |
He sang a song | sacred to knights[5] | |
And Alex did choose | chain and the belt— | |
A regal reward | reaped by honor! | |
Hail Big Alex | the Eastern Knight! |
© 2006 Dan Marsh
Footnotes
- ↑ An Old Norse word that refers to the king’s retinue, particularly his warriors.
- ↑ Brion’s personal residence, rather than a royal hall.
- ↑ A kenning for “Warrior.” Any god’s name in a Kenning stands for a man.
- ↑ Repetition of this sort is not uncommon in Eddic Poetry. See, for example, “The First lay of Guðrun”
- ↑ "Born on the List Filed" by Ivar Battleskald