Svensdrapa

Count Sven Orfhendur
Victorious in Spring Crown Tourney, A.S. XLII

svensdrapa (Svensdrapa)

Dróttkvætt

Caid:

Sea-girt land of glory,

God-watched from Valhalla.

They, sipping bee-sap wine,

sing of this our Kingdom,

where warriors bold reside.

Word-fame heard through Midgard,

tales told in skald-song,

tell well of Caid’s worth.

Sven:

Whelp of war-dead ruler,

wields strong in wrong-hand,

red blood battle-cleaver;

brazen Sven the mighty.

Heart-great and well honored,

heroically comes he

to stand steel’s trial,

striving for the Kingship.

Kolfinna, Consort:

Tiger taloned fell-knight,

Tyr-fierce on the field.

She-cat hits while smiling,

skilled killer of war-foes,

heaven-lovely Lady,

leader in the mead-hall,

awaits not weak straw-death;

worthy to be Sven’s Queen.

First, Jimena:

Comes now spinning Spaniard,

soaring warrior woman,

far-born of blood-noble,

battle-strikes like Valkyr.

Rings out sword struck oak-round,

sword-thunder slips under,

Jimena doth lay down.

Despair o’ertakes poor Rhys.

Second, Alexander Baird:

Brash comes Lord Baird, fighting,

bearing silver favor,

challenges all comers.

Care finds his fair consort;

Grey Saint Robyn gently

gathers, after Sven’s wrath,

Baird’s torn in twain war-board,

to tow his body home.

Third, Gareth:

Glaring comes Sir Gareth,

gifted, smart war-artist,

and Pelican, thrice-peer;

proud, his loud threat trebles.

Ciar, that Celtic war-drake,

can’t help thinly grinning;

graceful skillfull Gareth,

glorious gory death!

Fourth, Mansur:

Pouncing comes mean Persian,

pure, blessed by his Sure God,

victory’s own vanguard.

Vicious ice-born Norseman,

off-hand Sleet-sharp Sven,

slashes with Thor’s storm-crash.

Mansur’s corpse lays mangled,

mourns forth Mistress Eilidh.

Fifth, Dietrich:

Dire comes dread Ritter,

Dietrich, oft heard word-wright,

twice kin of Kings royal,

crusader made war-swift.

Beloved, his wife bows low,

by his side brings heart-warmth.

When good Sven mere wounds him,

War-Fame is nowise shamed.

Sixth, Jamal:

Saracen comes soaring,

speeds Jamal like eagle,

thus dares he to display,

dragon’s professed fondness.

Bare talons blast quick-strikes -

beak streaks out fast knife-strikes -

lastly sloth doth slow-strike -

slumping, cedes the eagle.

Seventh, Loss to Wilhelm:

Riled comes rash Wilhelm,

ready, sword-braced, grim-faced,

a fearless, brave forge-son,

fire-bright and mighty,

His thrown blows of thunder,

thickly smash into Sven;

Yew-strong and unyeilding,

Jarl Sven falls withal.

Full-well Sven is wounded,

won this one hath Wilhelm;

sable war-birds circle!

Spies he then Kolfinna -

how vast her love, fjord-deep,

hope returning cures him!

Stands forth to fight again,

Freshly bound a-crowning.

Eighth, Mons:

Then, marching comes Sir Mons,

martial, smart, and deadly,

rune-wise is his reason.

Ready to tread blood-paths,

for fair Arianna;

fearsomely he hawk-flies,

raging hard on Sven’s right flank,

relentless Swede succeeds.

Ninth and Final, Returns Herzog Deitrich:

Two boars, blood-enmired,

breech the farthest reaches,

arm-tired and blade-torn,

tested yes, but not dead.

Royal born their birthrights,

both sprung from young lines,

war-trained, will-bent to stand,

where stood their King-Fathers.

Come the foes to combat!

Crashing mighty brash blows,

lurid war-cries loud now,

lancing back, lightning cracks,

Strident screaming sword-sparks,

Whirling Thor-strong wind-bursts,

Ragnarok’s doom rages!

Gleefully the gods watch...

Wolf-Skoll chases Sun’s light,

shining out from storm-rind,

ray-bright new rain-born sky.

Regal Sven stands grinning,

undisputed High Prince:

Peerless, Matchless Fighter;

Wily Sage, Soul-Wise Man;

Worthy of Caid!

— Secca

...Hlaford Secca of Cantia is an 8thC Jute currently in the service of Æthelbald of Mercia. Squired to Sir Kolfinna, Secca is the Bard Errant for House Valentine and the betrothed of the beauteous Lady Meliora Deverel.

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