Roll of Arms Sirventes

As Courtesy breeds songs of love,
Nobiltiy would make me sing
A Sirventes to be written of
This tournement to chose a king
That crowns his love as beauty's queen.
This gathering of mighty foes
Who stand and strike with awesome blows,
Whose quidance comes from one above.

Processionals with banners bold,
With pennants, surcoats, gonfalons
Show noble beasts of ages old
That beg to be recalled in song,
And not to do so would be wrong.
So setting down the shining sword,
I pick up pen and fragile words,
And tell the story to be told.

The Phoenix rose, the Bear did maul.
The Griffin clawed out mighty blows.
The Cat did stalk and loudly prowl,
And potently a Cock did crow.
The Killer-whale frightened it's foes.
The Fluer of Mary took the field,
And one like David bore a shield.
An Ebonwolfe made Red blood fall.

Hakim's Pride fought most valiantly,
From steppes an Otter bore a glaive?
A Lion bore arms gracefully
Our Lord's own Cross did bear a blade,
A Hammer cast out deadly trade.
A Shark circled to crown the Rose,
A Carrion Crow feasted on foes,
A Gauntlet struck out mightily.

Until at last there stood but two,
Sir Amalric, with Blackened Hart,
And brave Janos who fates dice threw,
With quartered arms he bore his heart.
And as the blows fell fast and sharp
They stood most nobly on the field,
Then honoably they both did yield,
And glory and defeat both knew.

The second fight was soon begun,
And Janos to his knees did go.
There Amalric a victory won,
And struck a most decisive blow,
A 'dubbing' that laid Janos low;
Till finally the great swords drawn
the Fates, (Who knew so all along!)
picked Alamric the favored son.

A Prince and Princess soon were crowned
But glory cloaked O'Shannon's name.
Lord Janos came and bent hin down,
Was girded, clothed with belt and chain,
And spurs, the marks of knightly fame.
And somewhere far above the crowd
A Earl and Countess' hearts grew proud,
And smiled on those gathered around.