Prithee, my lord to take this youth:
body, sword and heart;
his soul sealed only unto
Almighty God.
He pledgeth unto thee
himself: virginal,
strong, diligent,
matriculated in arms,
unseasoned in battle.
Accept this sacrifice,
this ardour, strength,
this innocence and spend him well
in service and protection of the right –
upon forfeit of thy soul.
Author notes
A squire became a knight at age 21. A knight offered himself in service to his feudal lord. The liege lord was under the moral responsibility to use the knight for good purposes.
A contest entry
- a humbled knight ~fantasy prompt. . . by j i n.
500 points, ended October 15, 2008, 5 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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Yes yes yes!
This is just lovely.
The old English is a wonderful touch.
Squires. I didn't know this at all. In fact, I know very little about what a young man needs to know, in order to become a knight.
I love this feeling of this, I think you did a great job with my prompt, and my favorite artist's work. Thank you very much for your entry.
Much love always,
jin -
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I thank thee for thy comments, Lady and count mine own self blest that mine words hath found favour with thee.
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Well spoken, WarriorPoet! You evoke the almost mystical sense of dedication to a higher authority that ruled in this courtly world.
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Thank you, dear lady -- and would that the lords that send young knights to battle now exercise the required restraint.
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