The Court of Tar-Vanimelde

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Here's a place for dancing and singing, jesters and courtiers, Lords and Ladies (and having an all around good time)
Poetry is welcomed and the tables are well stocked- come in and strike up a conversation, or a romance.

#Vani (Queen Vanimelde, rather :king: )

[LuthienT]

Ah! Hello queen Vani, is floating allowed as well? lol

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Only in the servant's wing! ;) Does fine champagne make you float?


#Vani

[LuthienT]

Yeah, but it takes a lot to do so. lol

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Well, don't drink me out of house and home ;)

#Vani

[LuthienT]

lol I may be a bad influnence. ;)

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Well, I won't comment on that... just no elephants, you hear?

#Vani

[LuthienT]

They are here, they are not hanging around me. lol Mr. Drippy and Mr.Globby are here too! lol

[Gil Galad]

hey Vani, nice spot im impressed. so wots loaded on the tables today?

[Lady Ashley]

Hullo! The Minstrel of the Court has arrived!

Greetings, fair lords and ladies!
Welcome to greatest Court ever seen!
Greeting to all that come!
Welcome to the Court of the Queen!

[Gil Galad]

The minstrel has come with verses so fair,
as to match the food which has been prepare.
So may the feast be merry and fine,
and the beer flow along with the wine.

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Ah, Lady Ashely, thank you for coming! It's wonderful to have you :rose:
Gil Galad- we have just about everything you could want, but I'll be happy to request anything you desire ;)

The queen humblely welcomes all her fine guests
and hopes they enjoy themselves at this fest of fests
the tables are laden with all wonderful treats
and if they care to, may take their seats
for some evening entertainment is about to begin
but it will be better if you've had some gin
for our musicans are missing
and our jester is lisping
so hang onto your hats and don't drop your gloves
but once you settle in, it'll all be fine, loves


#Vani

[Lady Ashley]

Geez, y'all better stop making verses or I'll be out of a job! ;)

*grabs a glass of wine*

Has anyone a song request?

[Telumehtar]

song requests...i don't suppose that would include Metallica, would it? :rock:
~Telu :flamer:

[LuthienT]

I am all for it. lol Anything with rock I am for! lol

[Lady Ashley]

Naw, only music of Middle Earth, Valinor, and Numenor's allowed. lol Any particular person you'd like to hear about?

[Astaroth]

:o A Court!!! :o

OMG are my clothes ok for this???

Greetings to all and little gifts to all ladies round here :rose:

You wanted some music... here :boohoo:
lol

[Gil Galad]

:guzzle: yeh wot Astoroth said :rose:

anyway LA do you know ah my song?????

[Lady Cele]

Greetings Queen Vani..notworthy

I am indeed pleased to be in the presence of such fine company...:rose:

If Lady Ashley will forgive the forwardness, I do know your song, Gil-Galad...perhaps she will accompany me with the music.

"Gil-Galad was an elven king,
Of him the harpers sadly sing
The last whose realm was fair and free
Between the Mountains and the Sea. But long ago he rode away and where he dwelleth none can say; for into darkness fell his star in Mordor where the shadows are."

[Lady Ashley]

*plays the sad tune of her harp*

[LuthienT]

Beautiful, good job Lady Ashley and Lady Cele!;) Plays Narn i Hîn Húrin, (The Tale of Grief, the story of Turin Turamber) after Lady Ashley and Lady Cele finish their masterpiece.

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Welcome, everyone :wave:

Astaroth, you look perfect, don't worry ;) Thanks for coming by, it's nice to have you
Gil- such a charmer lol

Ah, that was beautiful, Ladies Cele and Ashely, and Lt :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose:
If requests are being taken, what about Boromir's Lament?

#Vani

[Lady Melanie]

ohhh, a court!
Can I be the princess who hates her royal life and really wants go on an exciting adventure and be a warrior?

[LuthienT]

Thanks Vani! LM thats up to Queen Vani but I am sure it would be cool to have a princess around! *Plays Boromirs Lament witth LC and LA*

[Telumehtar]

*bops LT lightly on the head* metal...rock is way too mellow! but it's good to know i'm not the only one in vani's court who likes lars n everyone! :rock:
~Telu :flamer:

[Lady Ashley]

(btw, are we in Numenor, or Gondor in the Fourth Age?) Here's the first part of the Lament for Boromir.

Through Rohan over fen and field where the long grass grows
The West Wind comes walking, and about the walls it goes.
'What news from the West, O wandering wind, do you bring to me tonight?
Have you seen Boromir the Tall by moon or by starlight?'
'I saw him ride over seven streams, over waters wide and grey;
I saw him walk in empty lands, until he passed away
Into the shadows of the North. I saw him then no more.
The North Wind may have heard the horn of the son of Denethor.'
'O Boromir! From the high walls westward I looked afar,
But you came not from the empty lands where no men are.'

[LuthienT]

Thats beautful Lady Ashley. *After music stops chases Telu around with an instrustment lightly bopping her on the head*

[Astaroth]

Thanks for reciving me Queen Vani ;)
So good to have such nice musicians here! sad notes that touch hearts mecry

[Elfdaughter]

Hail, and well met, Queen Vani.

*Enters the court in her medeival feast gear, and curtseys before Queen Vani. Vani nods, and ED rises.*

If it pleases you, your majesty, I am both herald, minstrel and fighter.

*ED picks up her celtic drum at Vani's nod.*


The Warriors' song.

We go, we go to war!
We go, we go to war!
With sword and spear, with axe and shield;
To our foes we'll never yield!

We go, we go to war!
We go, we go to war!
With crash of drum and clash of steel;
Our cold blades our foes will feel!

We go, we go to war!
We go, we go to war!
Our blades are bright, our spears are long,
Our shields are heavy, thick and strong!

We go, we go to war!
We go, we go to war!
Warriors all are we!
Warriors, born free!

We go, we go to war!
We go, we go to war!
Side by side we warriors stand!
Protecting our free home land!

We go, we go to war!
We go, we go to war!
To war we go, to war we go,
A shield wall bristling against the foe

Sing Haya, haya, haya, ho!
To war, to war we go!
To war, to war we go!

We faran, we faran to guð!
We faran, we faran to guð!
Wid sweord ond spere, æsc ond scyld;
To ure gefa we willa næfre asellan!

[Gil Galad]

whatis that form ED :beer: it seems somewhat familiar, but i can t place it

[Elfdaughter]

It's an old english style - rather that the french romanicism style, I went for the older alltierative style.

It's also based on 'the last march of the Ents.'

[Lady Ashley]

It reminds me of the Ents' marching song! ;p;

Fair were the people, great was the Queen
in the greatest land ever seen.
In turdor, Numenor
Between the Last and Hither Shire.
With sleek ships and towers tall
We were mighty before the Fall.
But alas! the the folly of our ways
Cut short the blissful days!
We sought the immortal life
But received only strife.
For Death was and is the Gift of Eru
Meant for me and for you.
So 'ware those who seek the immortal living
Swifter will Death be a-giving

[Elfdaughter]

Nice one, LA! Yeah, as I said abpve, that's what it was based on!!

The Barding Circle
(or, what happened at the Insulae Draconis Viceroy Tourney.)

The sun is set, the moon is up,
The fighting over for one day,
We’ve had our drinks and bite to sup,
So now we sing the night away.

In the hearth the fire is red,
Ashes falling in the grate,
And in the tents there are our beds,
But still we sing as the hour grows late.

For not yet weary are our heads,
Nor voices cracked with too much ale,
So we forsake our comfy beds,
And sing until the sky grows pale.

And then we’ll turn to meet our sleep,
Happy, fed and content,
Then we’ll sit, moan and weep,
Because we’ve got a leak in our tent!

[Lady Ashley]

LOL good one!

Music and ale are a good pair
But alas! sometimes they snare!
For if thou drink not responsibly,
Money thou might owe to authority.

[Elfdaughter]

hehe!! Good warning, LA!!

[Evenstar]

*eve enters the court*

I was drawn in by the sound of beautiful music! :)

*curtseying to Queen Vani*notworthy

Greetings, my lady. Your minstrel and her friends are very talented.

[Elfdaughter]

Thank you, milady.

I sing for the court of king Ellfric and queen Signy in the SCA - I am well accustomed to courts such as this.

[Lady Melanie]

Wow, there is so much great music going on in here! Now if only I had someone to dance with....

[LuthienT]

I think we should raid the other threads now and get the guys to come here. lol LM if you want I can teach you to swing dance.;) Its fun!:grin:

[Elfdaughter]

I would be happy to oblige, Milady!

Dost thou knowst the Bransle?

[Lady Melanie]

i would love to learn to swing dance Luthien, although I do think that we need some more vibey music to swing dance... What ever happenened to the tolkien house band?

[Elfdaughter]

Well, I'm here! lol

I can also teach you the Bransle, and the Pavan.... (medieval dances)

[Lady Melanie]

Medieval dances? that sounds like fun ED, I would teach as well but I sort of dont know any dances!

[Telumehtar]

Originally posted by LuthienT
*After music stops chases Telu around with an instrustment lightly bopping her on the head*

:trout: :trout: :trout: take that! :archer: :battle: and that :fight:
~Telu :flamer:

[Elfdaughter]

*ED steps lightly in front of Telu, her sword drawn.*

This is a court, Telu! I will have no fighting here! Not in front of the Queen! Any fighting must be taken outside, where I as Rapier Marshal, will be the marshal.

[Telumehtar]

*bows to vani, because curtseying is too girly*

sorry, queen! :grin:
~Telu :flamer:

[Lady Melanie]

Now about those medieval dance lesssons? and swing dance?

[LuthienT]

Sounds good to me. *Shakes hands to make peace with Telu, bows in apology to Queen Vani, brings out mead, beer and other drinks and goes off the dance*

[Lady Ashley]

Dance, dance all the eve!
And let not your hearts grieve,
For tonight we drink ale,
Until the dawn comes pale
And then we all sleep until night
And again we'll be a sight!

[Telumehtar]

that's great, LA!

*joins LT at the dance*
~Telu :flamer:

[LuthienT]

Awsome LA! *Starts to swing dance with Telu and LM* This is fun!lol

[Elfdaughter]

*Grabs and LT and teachers her the Bransle*

And turn, and circle, and back.... there! you have it!

[LuthienT]

Thanks. *Turn and circle and back* This is awsome! lol *Spins around and around and around til dizzy and falls* lol

[Elfdaughter]

Well, you're not quite supposed to do it that fast....... lol

and again:

Double left, kick left. Double left, kick left, right, left. (B)Double left double right. Repeat B.
Turn and circle and back!

[LuthienT]

lol *Gets up, stumbles, and tries again.* Hey I think I am getting the hang of this.

[Elfdaughter]

lol... *scratches head* Yeah, but you're supposed to go right, when I say right..... not left..... lol

[LuthienT]

lol Sorry. *Steps Left* Woops right *Tries to switch and trips* lol I knew that was going to happen sometime soon.

[Elfdaughter]

*ED falls about laughing*

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Welcome to all my new guests, thank you for coming! *nods graciously at everyone*

Thank you to the lovely mistrels and bards for our wonderful music, and you all look like you're having a good time dancing ;)

#Vani

[LuthienT]

lol Come on Vani, join the fun! *Starts dancing and teaching her what ED has just taught LT, tries and trips again and falls on the floor next to ED laughing*

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Erm I think I'll watch for now lol
It's like watching drunks, much more fun when you're sober ;)

#Vani

[Astaroth]

roflmao
Now I remenber why I don't dance.... lol
It's so much funnier to see people dancing lol
I'll just keep watching this beautyful Ladies

Queen Vani: How's your kingdom this days?

[Catz]

*sticks her head in the door*
just to let you all know, you now have me officially worried ;)
:catz:

[Beleg Strongbow]

**...Beleg walks in with his Jester's outfit on. A Lute strung over his shoulder and a look of bewilderment on his face...**

I hear that entertainers can come in here and...err...sing and ...umm...dance? Well, I'm not quite sure about the dancing thing, but...umm..if you're willing, I'll have a go....hhmmmph...ahem...

**...noises of throat-clearing...**

When I was a lad, I was gloomy and sad
as I was from the day I was born!
When other babes giggled and gurgled and wiggled
I proudly was loudly forlorn!

My friends and my family looked at me clammily,
thought there was something amiss!
When others found various antics hilarious,
all I could manage was this! --- :p

or this!---------------------------------- :(

or this!----------------------------------- :o

or this!------------------------------------:mmmm:

My father, he shouted: He needs to be clouted.
His teeth on a wreath I'll hand him!
My mother she cried as she rushed to my side:
You're a brute! and you don't understand him!

So they sent for a witch with a terrible twitch
to ask how my future impressed her.
She took one look at me and cried he... hee hee hee hee -- he?
What else could he be but a jester?

A jester? A jester?
A funny idear a jester!

No butcher, no baker, no candlestick maker
and me with the look of a fine undertaker
impressed her...?
as a jester?

But where could I learn any comical turn
that was not in a book on the shelf?
No teacher to take me to mold me and make me
a merry mad fool or an elf!

But I'm proud to recall that in no time at all
with no other recourses, but my own resources
with firm application and determination...
I made a fool of myself!

**...stands and recites a poem...**

I found a bow and arrow and I learned to shoot.
I found a little horn and I learned to too.
Now I can shoot and toot
ain't I cute?


**...leaves...**

[Gil Galad]

hey everyone what has been goin on in this fine court? i am quite impressed with the singing and all. its very heart warming

[Catz]

ok...........even MORE worried
Beleg, youre a problem child arent you *tries hard not to laugh and fails*
cute outfit tho ;) i particularly like the lil bells on your liripipe :o lol
:catz:

[Beleg Strongbow]

I wish you wouldn't call it a liripipe....

[Evenstar]

but catz is right, the bells are very sweet. :)

Does anyone know how to waltz? Because if not I will teach you.

*starts to waltz with an imaginary partner*

[Elfdaughter]

Originally posted by Catz
*sticks her head in the door*
just to let you all know, you now have me officially worried ;)
:catz:


Wait until I start teaching them Tablero.....

[Lady Melanie]

Tablero! please show me how to dance it!
roflmao roflmao roflmao roflmao Beleg!!

[LuthienT]

Sounds like more fun! Catz no need to worry, we are normal, no craziness has not come to play yet! lol
Beleg, love the bells dude. Great song by the way! lol I love it!

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Ah, I was hoping a jester would come by, and Beleg, you're a wonderful one ;)
Catz- don't worry too much, if things get too crazy the sprinklers will go off lol
Astartoth- well my good sir, the Kingdom is going quite smoothly, no peasant uprisings for quite some time ;)

Someone asked about the time period here- we're in Numenor about 2280 of the Second age :p

#Vani

[Telumehtar]

ooh, a jester! great!!!
~Telu :flamer:

[Beleg Strongbow]

I was going to do my ventriloquist act, but I'm scared of the dolls. They always have that intense look in their eyes like they're about to rip your throat out! :elfeek:

[Ice Dragoness]

What scares me more is we're talking about Beleg's balls roflmao :angel:

[Catz]

thats BELLS dear.............unless hes taken up juggling *sits down and then yelps, pulling a juggling ball out from under the cushion* ok then...........maybe we are talking balls here
:catz:

[Telumehtar]

lol i think you should be the juggler, Catz!
~Telu :flamer:

[Catz]

yes well, i dont know whether Beleg would let me use his balls :o lol
hes SO touchy about the claws you see ;) lol
:catz:

[Amithrellas]

Balls with bells bouncing 'round in them are a favorite of any cats I know ;)
Perhaps Beleg will loan them, Catz...

What an interesting court, Vani lol

[Catz]

id be in trouble if i knocked the bells out of em tho ;) lol
:catz:

[Astaroth]

lol You're making a nice Job Catz and Beleg, you are really funny, thank you for enterteining us :jester: :stomper:

[Catz]

well the thought of juggling Belegs balls kinda amuses me..........but i doubt hes going to be overly impressed

Beleg was a jester
in Vanis court he entertained us all
tho he blanched a little when the Kitty
started juggling with his balls

its not that im possesive
its just there should be a law
that when kittens get hold of your bells and things
that they dont ever use their claws ;)

:catz:

[Elfdaughter]

lol!

OK then.... *ED sets up the gaming board*

Who's up for a couple of rounds of Tablero?

*ED fills up her row of glasses with mead....*

[Beleg Strongbow]

I left the last verse of my song earlier and the song makes no sense without it..

for a jester's chief employment
is to kill himself for your enjoyment
for a Jester unemployed
is "Nobody's Fool!!"

I wish that I could sing you the melody because the song itself is quite spifflicating!!

[Catz]

LOL ahhh thats a lovely ending ;)..........so ironic lol
so you coming onto MSN hon?
:catz:

[Elfdaughter]

roflmao... I like it!!


OK.... so anyone for a game?

[Beleg Strongbow]

I'm not good at games, ED. I have no concentration...

Catz, I checked MSN...nobody is on!!

[Catz]

i AM 3 lol
check again hon ;)
:catz:

[Elfdaughter]

lol... even when alcohol is involved, Beleg?

[Catz]

especially when alcohol is involved ;) lol
:catz:

[Elfdaughter]

lol! OK.. well Tablero's really quite simple (ahem!) And can be hilarious - the more alcohol you drink, the better the game is!

OK - first rule - the highest ranking lady in the room must roll the dice first. That number is the Queen's number. When it's rolled, the player who rolled it must take any glass from the board, and toast the queen, before you move. (the empty cup goes on to the opponents base line for refilling.) The more you drink, the funnier the toasts get! If you role a 7, 11, or 12, the play passes to the other person. There are seven cups on the board, three on each of the opponents base lines. (there are seven squares across, and seven squares down on the baord) one glass is set in the middle. The players role one dice each, and whoever gets the highest number chooses which player takes the middle cup and moves. The idea is to get the cups in a straight line (6 or seven across or seven in a diagonal line) 6 across is the usual aim. If you get 6 across, you take three, and distrubute the rest as you see fit. (usually one to your opponent, and the rest are given out to the spectators.) OK, the idea then is to 'skunk' your opponent - you have two bottles of alcohlol to fill your glasses. If your opponent reaches the end of his alchol, and you haven't opened your second bottle, he has been skunked. (If he has finished both his bottles, and you still have some left, you've won.) If you have filled only your glasses at the start, and no other, you've royally skunked your opponent. If you have some alcohol left, but not enough to fill up all your glasses, your opponent may be kind and do a 'courtesy top-up'. The game continues, and if you're beaten again, then it becomes a toast round. The glasses are distributed between players and spectators, and the winning player toasts the queen, the highest ranking person in the room (which often is the king or queen), the person who set up the event, his/her noble opponent, anyone else who comes to mind, and of course, him/herself for being such a good opponent. And remember - the funnier, the better!! (But just as long as you're careful... one toast we had was 'to the Queen, may she reign...' ouch! the Queen just happened to be on the next table.....)

Final rule, which you can use if you've played a few rounds - any rule which you can convince your opponent is a rule.... IS a rule! lol But I don't play that on newbies....

[Catz]

ok once again.............this ISNT the games forum ok?
and sides, theres no way you can expect any of these drunks to remember that
*shoos ED off to the Games Forum*
:catz:

[Elfdaughter]

meh.... OK, I'm going! *quickly packs up her Tablero board and scoots off to the games thread to set it up there..... then scoots back with her harp instead.*

[Lady Melanie]

*sees ED come back in with her harp*
*pulls out her flute*
ED, want to make some music?

[Elfdaughter]

Sure! *ED sits down next to LM*

[Lady Melanie]

Well, any idea for any piece of music?
*plays a few notes on her flute*

[Beleg Strongbow]

if you're playing the flute, you could probably rustle up something from Peter & the Wolf...however, that's a bit boring. See if you can give me "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC...

[Catz]

lol now THAT id love to see *settles back with a long cool ale to watch*
:catz:

[LuthienT]

*Joins Catz with an Ale* Or Beleg you could get your hat and jester some more poems for us. lol

[Lady Ashley]

I thought I was the Minstrel? Well, I suppose that there's always room for a few more.

Ooh, here's the beer song in it's full glory. *strums her Gondorian harp*

Ode to Heart's Merriment, or The Drinking Song

Dance, dance all the eve!
And let not your hearts grieve,
For night we drink ale,
Until the drawn come pale.
And then we will sleep till night
And awake to the sun’s rays bright.

But until then…pass the ale and the beer!
For that we will surely cheer!
And laugh until our robs do hurt.
And maybe even flirt….
But we will dance to he minstrel’s tune
And sleep deeply until noon!

[LuthienT]

*Claps* Very nice LA! No worries I think Beleg is just here to make us laugh. lol

[Elfdaughter]

Aye... you and I are the true song-makers here, LA! lol And you are the mistress of the song! *bows deeply before LA.*

And now, for her Majesty's pleasure, *ED turns and bows to Vani* a couple of little dittys.

Pale as dawning sun,
Golden as dew drops run,
Fine as spider’s thread,
From silver spinning red,
Green eyes like the spring,
A golden wedding ring,
Hair like flowing water,
Goldberry, River-daughter.


As the sun grows red in the west,
And sinks to the edge of the sky,
As the light bleeds from the valleys,
And the day begins to die,
As the life ebbs from my body,
And my soul from the flesh is set free,
The huntsman's horn is sounding,
And I know he is calling for me,
My soul soars o'er the valleys,
And fields I once called home,
The lakes and the rivers I swam in,
The forests and paths I would roam,
My Balefire burns in the evening,
As my soul travels west of the sun,
To the island of apples, Annwn,
The blessed land of the young.

[LuthienT]

Bravo, Bravo! Well done ED! Very nicely done! :)

[Lady Ashley]

Yes, yes! Lovely. Far better than anything I could do. (I don't have much imagination in my poems...)

[Beleg Strongbow]

**...claps, drinks and burps all at the same time...**

[Catz]

see???
who says men cant multi task ;) :rolleyes:
:catz:

[LuthienT]

Nice Beleg! lol I think men multi task not meaning to. lol They don't want us to know they can. lol

[Elfdaughter]

Thanks everyone!

lol@Beleg....

:rolleyes: Typical man!

[Beleg Strongbow]

I hate it when males are referred to as "typical".

[Catz]

well i wouldnt call you typical at all hon........more Atypical in fact is thats any better ;) lol
:catz:

[Elfdaughter]

I hate it when males are referred to as "typical".


Yes... but they are!! lol


OK... a new one coming up....

The Fighter's Alphabet....

A's for the Armour I brought out on loan.
B's for the Bruises that blazon my bones.
C's for Crown Tourney, where the chivalry's found.
And D's for the Duke I must fight the first round.

Chorus:
Merrily, Merrily, so merry fight we,
no mortal on earth like a fighter can be.
Bash away, lay on, and never strike wrong.
Give a fighter his mead, and he'll fight all day long.

E's for the Earl Marshall making the rules.
F's for the Foemen, we think they're all fools.
G's for the Glory to augment our names.
And H for the Herald that butchers our names.

Chorus

I's for the Injuries got on the field.
J's for the Junkyards we plow for our steel.
K's for the King, to whom honor is owed.
And L's for the Lady who's answer is NO!

Chorus

M's for the Marshall who's calling out HOLD.
N's for that Novice who beat me so bold. (:p)
O's for the Orders the King loves to give.
And P's for the Polearm that's pounding my shield.

Chorus

Q's for the Quagmire when stormclouds do pour.
R's for Ratt-an which we need for our swords.
S for the Shield wall that marches all wrong.
And T's for the Tourney that's running too long. (as it always does...)

Chorus

U's for the Urchins that run on the field.
V is for Vikings with centergrip shields.
W's the War where we all almost drowned.
And X marks the spot where the site can't be found.

Chorus

Y's for the Yuletide, we drink 'til we're spent.
Z is for Zero at northern events.
It's also the end of my song at this time,
for now I have set all the letters in rhyme.

[Beleg Strongbow]

no we're not....and where'd you get that loverly song from then?

[Elfdaughter]

I'm a fighter Beleg.... Just a little something about us fighters....lol

[Gil Galad]

haha thas good ED especially the "L" line. :beer:

[Elfdaughter]

lol... I know... that happened to me... I had one particularly drunk fighter coming up to me, asking me out about 10 times..... so I imortalised it in song....lol

[Gil Galad]

ah the inspiration that drunken louts give us, isnt it jus incredible that drink can give so much :beer:

[Evenstar]

It's a lovely song ED... it captures the fighter's spirirt perfectly! :):grin:
entdraught

[Telumehtar]

true, it does. cheers, Evenstar! entdraught
~Telu :flamer:

[Elfdaughter]

hehe! Thanks Evenstar!

[Evenstar]

got any more for us ED? Or LA, if she's around?

entdraught

[LuthienT]

entdraught To ED for her wonderful poem!

[Elfdaughter]

Aw thanks everyone! I'd better go, actually, or I'll be late for work!! On my first day!

[Gil Galad]

good luck at work ED :beer:

[Lady Ashley]

Now for my music, lol. ;)

*begins a ballad of lost Numenor, her harp playing mournfully*

Númenor! Númenor! Of thee I sing!
Of the ancient isle now beneath the Sea,
Gone forever from outhful spring;
Now we can only sing of thee.

Strong white walls and frangrant trees
Are gone because of haughtiness.
And lost are thy fair ships and calm seas:
The pride of Westernesse.

Sunken is the City of Kings---Armenelos!
Drowned Pillar of Heaven---holy Meneltarma!
Gone is the great Isle of Elros:
Forever under the waves of Arda.

No elven-ships will come again to white Eldalondë,
No sweet scents will abound in Nisimaldar where the nose of blessed,
The sun nevermore will set upon the Bay of Andunië,
Romenna shall no more protect the Faithful of Westernsse!

The White Tree too is gone from the Court of Kings, to feed evil fires.
Curse thee, Sauron, for thou wrought its death
To fair white Nimloth, the Great Silver Tree was its sire!
But praise thee, Isildur, for saving a fruit from the Akallabêth!

Oh! If only thy mortal flesh had not lusted
For immortal days!
If only thou has not in Sauron trusted
And had not given the Dark One praise.

Mar-nu-Falmar! Land Under the Waves!
No waves now can break on thy mighty shore,
Nor can Middle-earth be thy slave.
No more ar thou, Land of Gift, O Andor!

So lost to the Sea is fair Númenórë!
Great Elenna, dear Starwards! thy pride brought death!
Tragedy has wrought thee the name Atalantë:
The Downfallen---Akallabêth!

[Telumehtar]

that's beautiful LA...you're such a great poet! notworthy

*hands LA a glass* here, your throat must be sore after singing that! entdraught
~Telu :flamer:

[Gil Galad]

that always brings a wee tear to my eye LA. :beer:

[Beleg Strongbow]

serves 'em right, I say!! Always wanting what they can't have...you don't see me prancing around demanding swift death! lol


Still, you sang it beautifully LA!

[Catz]

nope...........you just stick with the prancing hon ;) :p
:catz:

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Ah, I'm glad I found a computer and stopped by to see what was happening in the court ;) There's some wonderful music here, thank you, minstrels. (And Lady Ashely, you're the official minstrel ;) )

I just got back from visiting my first real castle :p It was pretty amazing, and I've decided we need a lot more stained glass in here *claps her hands and dozens of workers scurry in, install windows of scenes from the First Age, then scurry out again without distubing anyone* There we are!

#Vani :king:

[Lady Ashley]

But who wants to hear one minstrel sing ALL the time? lol Thanka for the beer, Telu! :beer:

I love the stained glass windows! Oh, there's the Two Trees! And Turin's meeting with Ulmo, and and Beren and Luthien, and of course Earendil with the Silmaril on hys brow! Lovely!

Yes, we poor mortals are obsessed with life. Silly Men, immortality is for Elves.

Someone on another board said death is the root of all fear. We're afraid to die, to give up the flesh. And why are we afraid us suffication? Death. Why are some afraid of heights? Death. So we might just take a lesson from the Numenoreans.

Have fun on your trip, Vani! er, Your Majesty. ;)

[Catz]

im not afraid of heights because of death.............im afraid of heights because of ending up in severe PAIN ;).......there are worse things than death
:catz:

[Gil Galad]

aye Catz death is a delivery from all pain when our bodies cant take anymore(i mean when u mortals cant take anymore) now imagine if u were imortal...if u fell from a big height u wud be mangled, with urself splated on the ground, you wud still be alive but u would be in constant pain and agony, you would beg for death then.we fear because of pain, not death, it had no evil until our minds were corupted by the evil that cud not reach us beyond death.

anyway, i love the windows, they are xquisit

[Catz]

lol i dont think immortality would be much of a draw card to me.............not with THIS life anyway ;)
:catz:

[Gil Galad]

well life can be prety bad alrite, but its all bout the perspective you take, i think iv got a great life for the soul reason that i know im lucky cos there are people in worse positions that me, but that is also the one thing i would say is bad about my life, there are people out there who have it terible and theres is very little i can do about it

[Beleg Strongbow]

fair enough Gil, but many die who feel no pain. It can take us at any time and without notice. Also, us elves can die from falling from a great height as we can from the blow of a sword or the shaft of an arrow, or being caught in the flame of a dragon, or the thongs of a Balrog's whip...

**...feeling a song coming on, pulls out the lute and liripipes and sings...**

Some can die in the blink of any eye.
Others just linger on
One can trip and fall a long way
Another can starve and then pass away

One can be dead from a bump on the head
From a crow bar wielded by some.
A gunshot is quicker than a slit wrist
Or a jab to the temple with a hard fist

Death is obtuse with a hangman's noose
It turns one blue in the face
Cerebreal Haemorrhage can do the trick
Nasty for some, but still pretty quick

Caught in a mincer would make me a wincer
Saddam had one so 'tis said
Heart palpitations will cause "Battle Stations!"
and guns are the favourite of most every nation!

Blowfish is Fugu if cooked by a Guru
Yet kills in the blink of an eye
Some parts are quite nice with the right sort of spice
Though, if I were to cook it, death would come in a thrice.

So Death is a joker, with a keen eye for poker
He'll deal out the cards and then wait
You may think that your canny and avoid the bum's rush
But in the end, Death has the Royal Flush.


**...bows and removes to his chambers...**

[Catz]

maybe immortality is why Elves are long winded ;) :p
well yes, death can be a thief...but it can also be a blessing........it wasnt called the gift of man by the Elves for nothing......this is a lament from the first age, a widow of one of the host of Gil Galad
*softly starts to sing*
oh death
gentle sleep
with you are mortals blessed
to never walk thru memories of pain,
and feel the agony fresh again
to relive losses over and anon
of heart, of love, now all gone
to never watch your world pass away
before your eyes
autumn leaves blown astray
that blessed ending you are given
that when your body and soul tire
that you may pass beyond this world
when in you the flame of life expires
to rest from memory and sorrow
this is the boon granted you
oh mortal, gentle death is a gift
this immortal would share too
surcease from memories as real to me
as when they first did pass
my weariness is utterly complete
i cannot bear the loss of my heart

:catz:

[Beleg Strongbow]

Gee Catz, now you make me feel more than ever that I should have just shutup and stuck my song in "Beleg's Buffoonery"!

[Catz]

why?
i liked yours..............besides, ive been up there too ;) lol
:catz:

[Beleg Strongbow]

yes, but yours is a sweet verse that cherishes the blessed sleep that death brings. Mine is just the tasteless rantings & ravings of a psychotic individual who felt the vein in his forehead throbbing and mistook it for a "creative moment"...

Having said that, let me say this....I'm going to bed.

[Catz]

yeah but youre a sweet psychotic hon ;)
heheh well ive already said goodnite but i will again.....n'nite sweety........sweet dreams :cuddles:
:catz:

[Lady Ashley]

Great poems...and yes, Death is Gift. If only people would see that.

[Elfdaughter]

LA, that last song of yours was beautiful! It reminds me... I wrote one a few months back (last year, now, I think! lol) about the White Tree. Two mins while I find it. If I've already posted it, I apologise... I lose track! Anyway, this is also up in the fanfic section...

Lament for the White Tree.



Sign of kings and Numenor's power,
Born from Celeborn's white flower,
Nimloth fair, tall did you grow,
But in Ar-Pharazon you found a foe.

Oh, Nimloth fair, blessed Tree,
The axe did fall, thrice times three,
Nimloth, who Yavanna adored,
Fell to blow from axe and sword.

Yet praises be to Elendil tall,
Who took, before Numenor's fall,
Nimloth's child, small and fair,
In Minas Ithil it blossomed there.

Though thrice it died, to plague or war,
Thrice the king a sapling saw.
Nimloth! Nimloth! Your name is fair,
Your children live whilst kings take air.

But now that time is gone and dead.
No king to lead the country's head.
Nimloth now has no heir,
Gondor has no king to care.

In the Steward's courtyard bright,
The last White Tree, no longer white,
Waiting for the king to come,
There are no Ages of the Sun.

The line of Numenor is gone,
Of those old kings there is not one.
Nimloth bright, you wait in vain,
The kings will not come again!

Ai, Nimloth! Fairer than Tinuviel,
In Numenor once you fell,
Galathilion was whence you came,
From him Celeborn was named.

Fairest Tree, you are no more,
The world has gained a grievous sore.

[Lady Ashley]

:o Gorgeous, Elfy! :thumbs:

[Gil Galad]

that is beautiful ED, i must start into the old poetry myself again. yours was excelent too Catz, very well delivered

and Beleg, its good to look at death and laugh, im sure he's laughing back, laments have there place but so too does humour

[Lady Ashley]

Boy, this place needs reviving!

Strike up a new hearty song!
Waken us up with a gong!
Pass the ale and the beer!
Give a rousing manly cheer!
Bring out the cat and the fiddle
And sing hey diddle-diddle!
Hop along, hop along members of the Court!
'Tis time for jest and for sport!
Vani may be away
But let us dance anyway!

[Tar-Vanimelde]

And back I am! What a loverly homecoming song ;)
*brings in a piper to accompany Lady A*

#Vani :king:

[Tulkas]

I have been resurrected...or something

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Or something is right ;) Have a seat, make yourself at home.

People, be nice to Tulkas, he's shy. Not really. But he's nice ;)

#Vani :king:

[Tulkas]

Hey! I can be shy...see look

<--Being shy

...well...when i want to be anyway...

[Lady Ashley]

Awww, a n00bie! Welcome to WOTR, Tulkas. (Nice name, btw!) Have a pint! *sends Tulkas a pint*

And welcome back, my lady Vani! Are you still on your trip or are you back home?

[Tulkas]

Thanks for the welcome my Lady



could I have another pint :blush:




(and Vani is back home, to steal her answer from her :cool: )

[Lady Melanie]

Welcome Tulkas!!!!
Nice song LA!!!!

[Gil Galad]

hey Tulkas, welcome abroad. :beer:

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Glad you like Tulkas' name, Lady A, I came up with it ;)

#Vani

[LuthienT]

Thats cool! Drinks all around for the Queen's arrival. *Gets out mead, beer, whiskey, etc* lol entdraught

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Ah, why thank you! *has a dinner table set out and decked with food of every type*

So, how is everyone? I'm still a bit confused about what time it is, what meal I should be having, and whether I should be in bed or not, so I'm opting to come on here and post til I get too tired to see lol Ah, Catz, my sig is more germane now than ever ;)

#Vani :king:

[Catz]

whzzzzupp??? *looks up blearily*
awww darn.........everyones back.............and i thought i could sneak a wee snooze in here while it was quiet lol
Vani, its ALWAYS germane..............leastways it is for me ;)
:catz:

[Lady Ashley]

Awww, sleepy-heads! *passes them some coffee* Have some coffee to wake up.

[Lady Melanie]

*walks in with a tray full of espressos*
This should wake everyone up and keep them going for hours! Dont blame me if you get a bit hyper though! :p

[Tar-Vanimelde]

*sets up a curtained off area full of pillows* there you are, Catz, a snooze area ;)

Ah, coffee! *daintily takes a mug and downs it in one gulp* Loverly, thank you :smooch:

#Vani :king:

[Telumehtar]

*walks in and takes an espresso*

thanks, Mel! so what's going on...i haven't been here for a while!
~Telu :flamer:

[LuthienT]

*Gulps down expressos and starts bouncing off the walls* Thanks LM! *Goes into another room and bounces to let Catz sleep* Hi Telu! How are you? I have no idea whats going on here, poems and fun! Thats what I can say! lol

[Catz]

oooooh PILLOWS!!!!
*dives into the pillows and curls up to sleep* :)
:catz:

[Astaroth]

espresso :hyper: *Takes one and start to shake* Wo-oo-o-ooow Th-tha-nks LM Soo-orry if I get a lllittle hyper lol

A snooze area this place is getting better, but I think I'll join LT Jumping arround and boucing on the wall.

*Jumps arround and bounce on the walls* lol This is funny but lets keep quiet :shhh: Catz is sleeping :catz::snooze:

[Lady Melanie]

*sees everyone bouncing off the walls*
*helps herself to an espresso*
*starts bouncing off the walls*
Whoops, sorry Catz
*goes to next room to bounce*
:hyper: :hyper: :hyper: :hyper: :hyper: :hyper:

[Lady Ashley]

LOL LOL ::I dislike coffee myself, so have fun. I shall pull out my fiddle for rowdier music. :)

[Gil Galad]

Rowdie music heh, im not a fan of Coffee myself either LA

[Lady Melanie]

Rowdie music? Bring it on!!! :hyper: :hyper: :hyper: :hyper: :hyper:

[Tar-Vanimelde]

I like fiddling! *pulls up a chair to listen*
*brings in a trampoline for the bouncy room*
Astaroth, hyper is always welcome :p

Glad you could get some rest, Catz ;) Just don't shred too many pillows in your sleep lol

#Vani :king:

[Lady Melanie]

A TRAMPOLINE!!!!
WOOHOO!!!
Thanks Queen Vani! :hyper: :hyper: :hyper: :hyper: :hyper: :hyper: :hyper:
*bounces on Lady Ashley*
Whoops! Sorry LA
*bounces off*

[Telumehtar]

trampoline?!? whoohoo!

*bounces off the trampoline and grabs LT to twirl with her for no particular reason*
~Telu :flamer:

[Beleg Strongbow]

right! well, I've seen enough silliness in here now to last me for quite a while...

Also, I've never known a fiddle to be particularly 'rowdy'.

**...heads off to the tavern...**

[Gil Galad]

good point beleg, unless u start battering people about the head with it

[Beleg Strongbow]

I'm not a violent elf...

[Gil Galad]

ah but sometimes needs must

[Beleg Strongbow]

I've been in a position to use a stringed instrument to hurt somebody in the past...it wasn't a good idea. As I went to batter said victim with one stringed instrument, another stringed istrument that I had on a stand was falling off the stage that I was standing on at the time. The end result was that I spent hundreds of dollars repairing the damaged stringed instrument. Therefore, rowdiness is not part of my vocab anymore!

[Gil Galad]

that does sound like the sort of thing that would pu u of rowdiness alrite

[Catz]

darn right.............and the LAST thing we need is rowdy elves thanks
we have enough fun with the dwarves and those damn axes ;) lol
:catz:

[Gil Galad]

so wot we dont get to be rowdy, that makes me mad verymad

[Catz]

you can be boisterous, high spirited,bucolic, even bacchanalian..............but not rowdy ;) lol
:catz:

[Gil Galad]

i guess thatl do...................for now

[Astaroth]

thanks to approve the hyperactivity :king: Vani

:( hyperactivity is gone.... :( time for a hangover i feel sick and depressed :(

[Lady Melanie]

*stops bouncing*
Awww... the espresso wore off!
Sorry you feel sick and depressed Astaroth!
Hope you feel better soon!

[Telumehtar]

same here. will a :rose: help???

my espresso wore off too! *runs off then comes back with a tray of more espressos*
~Telu :flamer:

[Lady Melanie]

I dont think I could have another one Telu, thanks anyway but they just make me too hyper!

[Astaroth]

:) Thx Guys... I'm feeling much better right now lol

And I guess I wont take another espresso for a while lol

[Telumehtar]

okay, more for me...
~Telu :flamer:

[Lady Ashley]

*serves more expresso*

I think we need a song...

Thou lovest thy coffee
For it ser thy mind and tongue free!
It gives you a jump start to the day
So you can be on your way!

But beware when the caffine runs out:
You'll be more tired than a squid or trout,
And become more addicted than a tree to sunlight
So beware of the Coffee Plight!

[LuthienT]

Great one LA! Oh mine wore of too. *Grabs two expresso's, downs them and starts bouncing again* This will last longer now that I had two, thanks LA!

[Tar-Vanimelde]

I'm actually having a pretty great day all around :grin: I fell asleep at 8 last night, woke up at three, rolled over and went back to sleep. So today, having done none of my homework, I was at least well rested lol I managed to get everything done before the class it was due for, so it's all good. But now I'm a bit hyper because I'm rested for the first time in.......probably a good two weeks :p

#Vani :king:

[Astaroth]

lol Nice song LA. thx for the advisory ;)

Vani you have really rested lol I envy you I have to wake up early and I just can't fell asleep soon :( so I don't know what to do :huh:. I guess Im going to the snooze area... *heads for the snooze area* good night take care ;)

[Catz]

*piles up some pillows for Asta and puts a blanket out* there you go........im heading off to work so ill leave you to it :wave:
*hangs a do not disturb sign on the curtain*
:catz:

[Telumehtar]

*piles up some pillows for Asta and puts a blanket out* there you go........im heading off to work so ill leave you to it :wave:
*hangs a do not disturb sign on the curtain*:catz:
*grabs an espresso and begins to bounce, making sure not to bother catz*
~Telu :flamer:

[Astaroth]

;) Thanks Catz you're really nice!.... this is a really comfortable area :grin:

[Tar-Vanimelde]

*heads over to the nap area* Ah, I think I might as well get some rest here while I can..... but I'm not really tired *puts down a latte* hmm, that might have something to do with it...

#Vani

[Catz]

well then try this instead *brings in a steaming punch bowl of mulled wine, redolant of vanilla and cloves and citrus peel*
i know its summer where most of y'all are, but its early winter here so a little warm up is in order
and YW Asta ;) if theres one thing kittys understand, its comfort lol
:catz:

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Mm, that smells heavenly.... *dishes up a mug and sips* Ah Catz, you're hired! Official late night punch mixer ;)

#Vani

[Lady Melanie]

Its also heading into winter here Catz!
And I now have a horrible cough because of it!
*cough Cough*

[Beleg Strongbow]

Oom Pa Pa! Oom Pa Pa! Oom Pa Pa! Oom Pa Pa!!

Here's Beleg With The Loud Oom Pa Pa Band To Introduce Some Excitement And Entertainment For The Snoozy Losers Here At The Court Of Tar-vanimelde!!! Forget Your Sleep, Get Off Those Soft, Comfortable Cushions, Forget The Mulled Wine And All Other Sleep-inducing Agents And Get On The Floor And Join In Dancing The Polka To Stanley St.john Stevers And His Band Of Renown!!!!!!!

:whoohoo: :whoohoo:
:wiggle: :wiggle:
:rock: :rock:
:beer: :beer:




:o

[Catz]

oooooh goody.............prey!!!!
*stuffs cushions into the tubas and threatens the fluglehorn player with immenant dismemberment, while she gets inventive with uses for slide trombones ;) *
:catz:

[Ice Dragoness]

And this one time....on band camp....Kitty did WHAT?!?!?!

Poor trombones roflmao

[Beleg Strongbow]

band camp??? Does somebody want to tell me that this is only a joke?

[Catz]

this is only a joke ;)
there ya go
:catz:

[Beleg Strongbow]

Good...because the thought of somebody actually holding a 'band camp' with flugelhorns, trombones, etc., is just a bit too disturbing for words....

"How to be more human with your instrument - a handy guide" etc, etc,

[Catz]

could be worse.............you only play the bass these days............imagine a cello ;).....or a Steinway ;)
you could get into nasty trouble with the lid
:catz:

[Astaroth]

:mmmm: Bad Beleg! :fanboy: pfbbt I was having a nice dream! now im stressed :( Maybe Catz punch help me to relax... ;)
:batty:

[Tar-Vanimelde]

*throttles Beleg while watching with amusement as Catz gets creative with the band members and their instruments*

I have officially sworn off sleep.

#Vani

[Lady Ashley]

lol lol

Aww, poor Beleg. How about I play a soft tune on my lyre? *pulls out the lyre and begins to play, weaving a tale about the Valar*

[LuthienT]

Thats beautiful! *Stuffs Beleg into a closet with his band and locks the door once Vani is done throttling him* Thats better! lol

[Astaroth]

Sorry Beleg.... but this is what you get when you wake sleeping people lol.
That soft music is so relaxing Lady Ashley ;)

[LuthienT]

It is very relaxing, thanks Lady Ashley, I feel like my problems are elsewhere. lol Beleg got what he deserved, we should have a warning sign here, DO NOT DISTURB SLEEPING PEOPLE! lol

[Lady Ashley]

No problem; that's what minstrels are for. I'm no elvish minstrel, but I try. *bows low before the Court*

[Tar-Vanimelde]

*lets out poor abused Beleg and hands him a coffee* sorry dear :p

Lovely, Lady Ashley, simply wonderful

#Vani

[Astaroth]

In Fact Vani Hanged a DO NOT DISTURB sing when she went to the nap area lol and I guess I'm going back there... time to sleep good night everybody. Lets hope Beleg is not mad on us :p

[Lady Melanie]

*walks in with breakfast*
Wake up all you sleepyheads!
I brought you breakfast!!! :grin:

[Beleg Strongbow]

not bacon and eggs again....the way I feel, I may be doing the 'pukey smiley' thing...

[Catz]

dont forget the big glistening greasy sausages and the fried tomatoes and the delicate lingeting scent of cooking fats ;)
oooh Beleg you dont look well sweety ;) :naughty:
have a bucket ;)
:catz:

[Beleg Strongbow]

**...closes his eyes and thinks of Pepto-Bismol...**

[Catz]

*shoves a garlic sausage under his nose*
oops :evil:
:catz:

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Catz! lol

I had my one year WotR aniversary last Friday, so it's celebration time! *brings out champagne* :wiggle:

#Vani

[LuthienT]

:hooray: Congrats Vani! *Pours Champange and brings out mead and moves away from a very green Beleg* I would run to the bathroom fast if I were you Beleg. You look really sick! *Chases Beleg with Cold eggs to the Bathroom*:wicked:

[Evenstar]

congratulations queen Vani :grin:

*takes a glass of champagne from Luthien*

entdraught Thanks.

[Lady Melanie]

congrats Vani! Mine is in 3 days!!!
Please pass that champange this way, Luthien.

[Evenstar]

here is some LM. :beer:

lets have a celebratory ballad! (is there such a word as celebratory?)

[Lady Melanie]

i think there is Evenstar!
Cheers! entdraught lol

[Lady Ashley]

Yes, I believe that's a word.

Congrats. O Queen!
One year you've seen
At War of the Ring!
So let us your praises sing!

(who don't we all contribute two or three lines of verse for Vani?)

[LuthienT]

lol *Hands out Champange* Here's to Vani and LM who have been here one year and have been great friends to many and a great influence to this site. Cheers and Congrats to you both. entdraught

[Evenstar]

you've brightened our days
in your different ways

(sorry if that is bad)

[LuthienT]

That is very good Evenstar! *Applause breaks out*

You joy and fun here,
Has brought much cheer,

[Lady Melanie]

awww... thanks Luthien :blush: :smooch: :smooch:
its not bad evenstar! :smooch:
*raises her glass*
A toast
To War of the ring
and of course our own queen
QUEEN VANI
*applause breaks out*

[Tar-Vanimelde]

You guys are too cute *runs around huging everyone* :blush:

#Vani

[Astaroth]

oops... sorry I'm late.... but congratulations Vani entdraught ;) :)

And those were nice ballads :grin:
:batty:

[Lady Ashley]

That they were! More beer for everyone! :beer:

[Astaroth]

Yeah! A toast for Vani and our nice ballad performers entdraugt cheers :grin:
:batty:

[Telumehtar]

cheers! entdraught
~Telu :flamer:

[Elfdaughter]

*ED staggers in with ten barrels of home-made pine mead* Here you go! Congrats, Queen Vani!

[Astaroth]

I'd love to sing you a ballad Vani... but I don't know any :( :huh: :(

Maybe I could find a teacher round here ;)
:batty:

[Elfdaughter]

lol... I'd gladly teach you a few!

[Astaroth]

Thanks! ;) where do we start?

:batty:

[Elfdaughter]

When writing ballads, it's always good to take a look at some other ballads to get an idea of style and inspiration.

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Anonymous. 17th Cent.

375. The Queen's Marie

MARIE HAMILTON 's to the kirk gane,
Wi' ribbons in her hair;
The King thought mair o' Marie Hamilton
Than ony that were there.

Marie Hamilton 's to the kirk gane 5
Wi' ribbons on her breast;
The King thought mair o' Marie Hamilton
Than he listen'd to the priest.

Marie Hamilton 's to the kirk gane,
Wi' gloves upon her hands; 10
The King thought mair o' Marie Hamilton
Than the Queen and a' her lands.

She hadna been about the King's court
A month, but barely one,
Till she was beloved by a' the King's court 15
And the King the only man.

She hadna been about the King's court
A month, but barely three,
Till frae the King's court Marie Hamilton,
Marie Hamilton durstna be. 20

The King is to the Abbey gane,
To pu' the Abbey tree,
To scale the babe frae Marie's heart;
But the thing it wadna be.

O she has row'd it in her apron, 25
And set it on the sea—
'Gae sink ye or swim ye, bonny babe,
Ye'se get nae mair o' me.'

Word is to the kitchen gane,
And word is to the ha', 30
And word is to the noble room
Amang the ladies a',
That Marie Hamilton 's brought to bed,
And the bonny babe 's miss'd and awa'.

Scarcely had she lain down again, 35
And scarcely fa'en asleep,
When up and started our gude Queen
Just at her bed-feet;
Saying—'Marie Hamilton, where 's your babe?
For I am sure I heard it greet.' 40

'O no, O no, my noble Queen!
Think no sic thing to be;
'Twas but a stitch into my side,
And sair it troubles me!'

'Get up, get up, Marie Hamilton: 45
Get up and follow me;
For I am going to Edinburgh town,
A rich wedding for to see.'

O slowly, slowly rase she up,
And slowly put she on; 50
And slowly rade she out the way
Wi' mony a weary groan.

The Queen was clad in scarlet,
Her merry maids all in green;
And every town that they cam to, 55
They took Marie for the Queen.

'Ride hooly, hooly, gentlemen,
Ride hooly now wi' me!
For never, I am sure, a wearier burd
Rade in your companie.'— 60

But little wist Marie Hamilton,
When she rade on the brown,
That she was gaen to Edinburgh town,
And a' to be put down.

'Why weep ye so, ye burgess wives, 65
Why look ye so on me?
O I am going to Edinburgh town,
A rich wedding to see.'

When she gaed up the tolbooth stairs,
The corks frae her heels did flee; 70
And lang or e'er she cam down again,
She was condemn'd to die.

When she cam to the Netherbow port,
She laugh'd loud laughters three;
But when she came to the gallows foot 75
The tears blinded her e'e.

'Yestreen the Queen had four Maries,
The night she'll hae but three;
There was Marie Seaton, and Marie Beaton,
And Marie Carmichael, and me. 80

'O often have I dress'd my Queen
And put gowd upon her hair;
But now I've gotten for my reward
The gallows to be my share.

'Often have I dress'd my Queen
And often made her bed;
But now I've gotten for my reward
The gallows tree to tread.

'I charge ye all, ye mariners,
When ye sail owre the faem, 90
Let neither my father nor mother get wit
But that I'm coming hame.

'I charge ye all, ye mariners,
That sail upon the sea,
That neither my father nor mother get wit 95
The dog's death I'm to die.

'For if my father and mother got wit,
And my bold brethren three,
O mickle wad be the gude red blude
This day wad be spilt for me! 100

'O little did my mother ken,
The day she cradled me,
The lands I was to travel in
Or the death I was to die!

GLOSS: wroken] avenged. row'd] rolled, wrapped. greet] cry. hooly] gently.

[Lady Melanie]

*pulls up cushion and sits down on it to listen to the lesson*

[Telumehtar]

*does the same, eager for more ballads*
~Telu :flamer:

[Tar-Vanimelde]

Woozers, that was magnificent ED. How do you find these things? A pint of mead for the weary lass, for tired you must be after all that ;)

#Vani

[Gil Galad]

that is very good ED, but im more of a let it come naturally man, your own style that is. dont get me wrong its good to be influenced by other styles, but u have to make sure teh style you end up with is your own and not just a mix of others, im probably not making any sense so il be quiet now

*gives ED a round of applause*

[Lady Ashley]

*claps* What a poem! Kind of hard to follow, but interesting, lol.

[Elfdaughter]

Yeah, I know! lol I agree, Gil, but for newbies, it's easier to do that, and once they've built up confidence, then try to develop their own voice. When I started, for instance, I made loads of poems, based very much on the poems from LOTR. As I grew more confident, I progressed, and am now writing poems in my own voice, though sometimes, I do still like to take inspiration from other poems.

OK, so now you've seen what a ballad's like, the next thing to take into account is the things that most ballads have in common. That's things like - dialect, direct speech, synactic parrallel (that's repating a line or phrase - e.g. 'mak haste, make haste'), euphamisims (e.g. 'wi' the scots lords at his feet'), anthromorphism (personification), semantic fields, hyperbolisation (exaggeration), oxymorons, connotations, modal verbs (e.g. 'may' or 'can') metonomy (where an object is used for a whole, for example 'crown' represents the king, or ruling monarch) and homonyms (words with same forms, but different meanings). As long as you get some of those in, you're flying!

The next thing to look at is why ballads were used. They were sent around the country, normally, passed on by word of mouth. This was before mail and email, and wandering minstrels normally sang to great courts, and the nobles and monarchs would learn of great deeds done in other counties, as well as not so great deeds lol! They had to be easily remembered, as the majority of people could not read or write, and so this was the main way for them to get news, so they were normally set to music.

They encouraged social bonding, stressed heroism in suffering (e.g. the wife of Usher's Well), focused on love and loyalty even beyond death, stressed simple poignant moments, emphasising the beauty of life, and reminded people of courage, and the ability to cope. They used weather and seasons as a reminder that humans are part of the natural cycle of the earth.

OK, so that's a little bit about how ballads were used, and why they were used. It's important to remember that these were the newspapers of their day! I mentioned the Wife of Usher's Well above. That and the two others I'll put down are good examples of period ballads, and they'll give you a good idea of how a ballad should run.

Sir Patrick Spens (Anon)

The King sits in Dunfermline town,
Drinking the blood-red wine;
"O where shall I get a skeely skipper
To sail this ship or mine?"

Then up and spake an eldern knight,
Sat at the King's right knee:
"Sir Patrick Spens is the best sailor
That ever sailed the sea."

The King has written a broad letter,
And sealed it with his hand,
And sent it to Sir Patrick Spens,
Was walking on the strand.

"To Noroway, to Noroway,
To Noroway o'er the foam;
The King's daughter of Noroway,
'Tis thou must fetch her home."

The first line that Sir Patrick read,
A loud laugh laughed he;
The next line that Sir Patrick read,
The tear blinded his ee.

"O who is this has done this deed,
Has told the King of me,
To send us out at this time of the year,
To sail upon the sea?

"Be it wind, be it wet, be it hail, be it sleet,
Our ship must sail the foam;
The king's daughter of Noroway,
'Tis we must fetch her home."

They hoisted their sails on Monenday morn,
With all the speed they may;
And they have landed in Noroway
Upon a Wodensday

They had not been a week, a week,
In Noroway but twae,
When that the lords of Noroway
Began aloud to say, -

"Ye Scottishmen spend all our King's gowd,
And all our Queenis fee."
"Ye lie, ye lie, ye liars loud!
So loud I hear ye lie.

"For I brought as much of the white monie
As gane my men and me,
And a half-fou of the good red gowd
Out o'er the sea with me.

"Make ready, make ready, my merry men all,
Our good ship sails the morn."
"Now, ever alack, my master dear
I fear a deadly storm.

"I saw the new moon late yestreen
With the old moon in her arm;
And if we go to sea, master,
I fear we'll come to harm."

They had not sailed a league, a league,
A league but barely three,
When the lift grew dark, and the wind blew loud,
And gurly grew the sea.

The ankers brake and the top-masts lap,
It was such a deadly storm;
And the waves came o'er the broken ship
Till all her sides were torn.

O loth, both, were our good Scots lords
To wet their cork-heel'd shoon,
But long ere all the play was play'd
They wet their hats aboon.

O lang, lang may the maidens sit
With their gold combs in their hair,
All waiting for their own dear loves,
For them they'll see nae mair.

O forty miles of Aberdeen,
'Tis fifty fathoms deep;
And there lies good Sir Patrick Spens,
With the Scots lords at his feet.

Anonymous. 17th Cent.

378. The Wife of Usher's Well

THERE lived a wife at Usher's well,
And a wealthy wife was she;
She had three stout and stalwart sons,
And sent them o'er the sea.

They hadna been a week from her, 5
A week but barely ane,
When word came to the carline wife
That her three sons were gane.

They hadna been a week from her,
A week but barely three, 10
When word came to the carline wife
That her sons she'd never see.

'I wish the wind may never cease.
Nor fashes in the flood,
Till my three sons come hame to me, 15
In earthly flesh and blood!'

It fell about the Martinmas,
When nights are lang and mirk,
The carline wife's three sons came hame,
And their hats were o' the birk. 20

It neither grew in syke nor ditch,
Nor yet in ony sheugh;
But at the gates o' Paradise
That birk grew fair eneugh.

'Blow up the fire, my maidens! 25
Bring water from the well!
For a' my house shall feast this night,
Since my three sons are well.'

And she has made to them a bed,
She 's made it large and wide; 30
And she 's ta'en her mantle her about,
Sat down at the bedside.

Up then crew the red, red ****,
And up and crew the gray;
The eldest to the youngest said. 35
''Tis time we were away.'

The **** he hadna craw'd but once,
And clapp'd his wings at a',
When the youngest to the eldest said,
'Brother, we must awa'. 40

'The **** doth craw, the day doth daw,
The channerin' worm doth chide;
Gin we be miss'd out o' our place,
A sair pain we maun bide.'

'Lie still, lie still but a little wee while, 45
Lie still but if we may;
Gin my mother should miss us when she wakes,
She'll go mad ere it be day.'

'Fare ye weel, my mother dear!
Fareweel to barn and byre! 50
And fare ye weel, the bonny lass
That kindles my mother's fire!'

GLOSS: fashes] troubles. syke] marsh. sheugh] trench. channerin'] fretting.

The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

12. The Three Ravens

Traditional Ballads


THERE were three ravens sat on a tree,
Down a down, hay down, hay down
There were three ravens sat on a tree,
With a down
There were three ravens sat on a tree, 5
They were as black as they might be.
With a down derry, derry, derry, down, down.

The one of them said to his mate,
“Where shall we our breakfast take?”

“Down in yonder greene field, 10
There lies a knight slain under his shield.

“His hounds they lie down at his feet,
So well they can their master keep.

“His hawkes they fly so eagerly,
There’s no fowl dare him come nigh.” 1 15

Down there comes a fallow doe,
As great with yong as she might go.

She lift up his bloody head,
And kissed his wounds that were so red.

She got him up upon her back, 20
And carried him to earthen lake.

She buried him before the prime,
She was dead herself ere even-song time.

God send euery gentleman,
Such haukes, such hounds, and such a leman. 25

[Catz]

ok this ISNT the poetry forum alright?
theres a forum for this sort of discussion........please use it thank you
the odd poem posted is one thing, screeds of stuff cut and pasted in is another
:catz:

[Elfdaughter]

Er, I resent that cut and pasted remark, Catz. Sure, I'll take it over to the poetry forum, but that remark I resent. However, *ED bows to Vani* I will respect the rules of chivalry and not pelt your furry...pelt... with arrows.... ;)

[Astaroth]

Thanks for the lessons ED you're a nice teacher! ;)

[Lady Melanie]

Great lesson ED!!!
Anyone for some birthday cake?
*brings out bday cake*
Its to celebrate me turning 20. *sigh*
Im soooo old! lol!