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(New page: ''Written on the Old Norse meter fornyrthislag by Grim the Skald'' It was the 36th Pennsic War. The East was badly outnumbered, and there were many who thought they may not survive ...) |
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''Written on the Old Norse meter fornyrthislag by [[Grim the Skald]]'' | ''Written on the Old Norse meter fornyrthislag by [[Grim the Skald]]'' | ||
It was the 36th Pennsic War. The East was badly outnumbered, and there were many who thought they may not survive this war. On the eve of the first battle, [[Griffyth FitzWilliam|King Gryffith]] looked out over the army of the East and saw the men were solemn and gloomy. He bade a herald, Diomedes Sebastianus, to get the men’s attention, and then he summoned his Skald. | It was the 36th Pennsic War in A.S. 42. The East was badly outnumbered, and there were many who thought they may not survive this war. On the eve of the first battle, [[Griffyth FitzWilliam|King Gryffith]] looked out over the army of the East and saw the men were solemn and gloomy. He bade a herald, Diomedes Sebastianus, to get the men’s attention, and then he summoned his Skald. | ||
The King spoke loudly, “Grim. There are around 300 warriors of the East here. There is a famous tale of 300 warriors outnumbered by a much larger foe, is there not?” | The King spoke loudly, “Grim. There are around 300 warriors of the East here. There is a famous tale of 300 warriors outnumbered by a much larger foe, is there not?” | ||
Grim smiled, and spoke this verse: | Grim smiled, and spoke this verse: |
Revision as of 12:47, 29 October 2010
Written on the Old Norse meter fornyrthislag by Grim the Skald
It was the 36th Pennsic War in A.S. 42. The East was badly outnumbered, and there were many who thought they may not survive this war. On the eve of the first battle, King Gryffith looked out over the army of the East and saw the men were solemn and gloomy. He bade a herald, Diomedes Sebastianus, to get the men’s attention, and then he summoned his Skald. The King spoke loudly, “Grim. There are around 300 warriors of the East here. There is a famous tale of 300 warriors outnumbered by a much larger foe, is there not?” Grim smiled, and spoke this verse:
1. Men of the south[1] | have a matchless tale | |
A thousand years old, | ageless and true | |
Three hundred men | ‘gainst many did stand | |
And laid down their lives | to the last shield-man | |
2. Of Sparta I speak, | spear-head of Greece | |
Leaders of men, | lovers of battle | |
They bear blades ever | from birth until death | |
Nor lay down their shields | ‘till lain down on them. [2] | |
3. Small the kingdoms | and cities of Greece | |
Mighty the Empire | that massed without | |
These South-born folk | saw but two choices: | |
Fight as free men | or fester as slaves | |
4. These brave warriors | would bear no lash | |
Marched they to meet | their massive foe | |
King Leonidas | led his Spartans | |
Heart of a lion | housed in his breast | |
5. Their enemy desired | all the Greek lands; | |
To seize and enslave | these South-People. | |
A mighty army | marched from the sea | |
To a gorge men call | the Gates of Fire [3] | |
6. The Greeks stood brave | to guard this pass | |
Leonidas’ men | made the first line | |
Spear-bearing Spartans | spanned ‘cross the gap | |
To stop a foe | stretched past all sight | |
7. Xerxes the Sovereign, | self-proclaimed god | |
Yelled to the Spartans | “Yield up your arms!” | |
The Greeks called back | “Come and get them” | |
Xerxes ordered | his army to charge | |
8. A swarm of slaves | sallied forwared | |
Three hundred men | matched against them | |
His Medes first | met spear-wielders | |
And fell by the score— | fed well the crows! [4] | |
8. The horde fell back | bloodied and fearful | |
All then did learn | not least Xerxes | |
Humans are many | but men are few. [5] | |
God-king resolved | to send his elite | |
9. Called “Immortals” | were these mighty ones, | |
They thought easily | to overwhelm | |
Back fell the Greeks | to flee it seemed | |
Then they flanked the foe | in a fierce pocket | |
10. Immortals were made | mortal that day | |
As one spear then | Sparta struck home | |
Fell on that field | foes without number | |
And few of the Greeks | fell in return | |
11. From his throne Xerxes | thrice leapt and stood | |
He feared greatly | the fall of his men | |
His elite soldiers | were sorely pressed | |
And fell back from | the fire of swords [6] | |
12. But guile can defeat | great warriors | |
A hidden way | wound ‘round the pass | |
A foul traitor | took armies through | |
Around the flank | of the famed Spartans | |
13. Leonidas ordered | the army retreat | |
For if all died there | doomed were their homes | |
But to hold off hordes | hard men must stand | |
Or else their foes | may fast pursue them | |
14. The Spartan men | ne’er spurned duty | |
Stalwart they stood | stern and unyielding | |
Formed they a phalanx | and faltered not | |
Though death was sure | by day’s ending | |
15. A terrible swath | tore through the horde | |
The fierce Spartans | fought like heroes | |
When their spears shattered | sharp swords they bared | |
Each man fought on | ‘till their final breath | |
16. Their bold sacrifice | saved their fellows | |
The Greeks escaped, | scattered men rallied | |
The Spartan’s stand | inspired greatness | |
When the war was done | all had won glory. | |
17. Now it is we who face | fearsome numbers, | |
And march to meet | mighty armies | |
We follow the great | Gryffith, our King | |
Heart of a tiger | housed in his breast | |
18. This day we may die | or on this day triumph | |
But for a thousand years | our tale will be sung |
©2007 Dan Marsh
Footnotes
- ↑ Grim is an Icelander, ergo the Greeks are referred to as “South Men” throughout the poem.
- ↑ A common quote said by Spartan wives to their husbands was reportedly, “Spartan, return with your shield or on it.”
- ↑ Thermopylae in Greek. This is a more of a poetic translation than a literal one, as “Gates of Heat” does not particularly sound very stirring.
- ↑ “Feeding the crows,” or other carrion-eaters, is a frequent Kenning for being killed, particularly in battle.
- ↑ This is a close paraphrase of Heroditus’ History. “…they made it evident to every man, and to the king himself not least of all, that human beings are many but men are few.”
- ↑ A Kenning for “battle,” derived from the gleam of the swords in the light.