I will now post before my body shuts down again...
The reason I say this is that I've been working in a kitchen these past two days...the Cafe du Nouveau Monde. Being a kitchen runt is weird, and very draining. I have much admiration for the people who do this year-round. (You think its been hot in Montreal? Try being around several ovens that are constantly on for nine hours a day!)
The kitten, whose name can be found in the previous post, woke us up at around 5:30 this morning...she is SO lucky that she's cute, I don't think she would have survived otherwise. ;)
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That would be her reply.
I will not be working in a kitchen for the rest of the summer, I will do the Jazz Fest and then bow out. A great learning experience that is making me appreciate school...Gods I miss school!
I've been staring at my HP:OotP since I received it on Saturday. I haven't started it yet because I want to get through the !%&$* appendix (appendices, appendie???) that are at the end of The Return of the King. The third book was a lot better than I recalled. Perhaps I'm more mature than I was at age twelve (though not too much more I hope), or perhaps the original version is better...
A lesser writer would have ended the cycle at the moment Frodo and Sam manage to succeed, instead a properly cyclical/circular story has been given to us, with the Hobbits returning to their homes; realizing that not only they have changed but their world as well.
sigh.
The love between Faramir and Eowen is so bitter-sweet, and it is both slow and quick like a spring that takes forever to happen and yet manages to surprise you when it does arrive overnight.
Enough with the book reviews! (unless you want more...) I still have to catch up on some reading.
*bunny hugs everyone*
Just to get things started I'll cheat and post a story I wrote for school...It's a bit odd because it contains passages from middle english texts but what the heck!
Lytyll and mykyll, olde and yonge,
Lystenyth now to my talkynge,
Of whome Y wyll yow kythe;
Jesu lorde, of hevyn kynge,
Grawnt us all hys blessynge
And make us gladd and blythe.
Sothe sawys Y wyll yow mynge
Of whom the worde wyde can sprynge,
Yf ye wyll lystyn and lythe;
Yn bokys of ryme hyt ys tolde
How hyt befelle owre eldurs olde,
Well oftyn sythe. (Octavian ll.1-12)
A long time ago, in a far away land we now call Arabia lived a prince named Hesam. This noble and bold young man was the youngest son of a powerful sultan. No one at court could use a scimitar better than Hesam and his skill at weaving words was unsurpassed. His four elder brothers constantly bickered over who should inherit their father’s lands upon his death but Hesam did not join them in their scheming; he loved and honoured his father.
“So hit byfell upon a day,” (Sir Isumbras l.43) that the sultan’s most trusted advisors convinced him to go to war against the Christian infidels. The unbelievers were an offence to Yggoril Almighty and it was imperative that they be dealt with. The sultan chose his warriors with care and decided that Hesam, his most skilled son, would lead them into battle. The men traveled across the sea towards unknown lands where grass grew and the desert held no sway. For forty days they floated upon the waters. I will tell you what befell them, if you listen quietly.
When they disembarked on a coast of what we now call Cornwall; an enormous army of Christian knights attacked them. The sultan’s soldiers fought fiercely and managed to kill many of the knights but in the end they were too few. Some tried to swim back to their boats while others fled. Hesam was engaged in single combat with a valiant knight named Agobard. The two noble young men were so intent upon each other that they did not notice that the Christians were victorious; they continued to fight. Hesam attacked and Agobard parried, and for a time it seemed that the courageous prince would have the upper hand. However, as it is told in scrolls, Agobard managed to wound Hesam with a powerful blow to the head. That noble prince lost consciousness. Instead of giving Hesam a killing blow Agobard captured him. He had seen the nobility inherent in the handsome prince.
Hesam was imprisoned by Agobard’s lord, a Christian king of renown who had many castles and rich towers.
Syr [Brandyn] was his nome.
He hadde bothe hallys and bowrys,
Frythes fayr, forestes wyth flowrys;
So gret a lord was none. (Emaré ll.27-30)
Hesam was placed in one of the towers and a guard was posted. For forty days he sat alone, only briefly seeing the maiden who brought him some food at meal times. Our hero felt much sorrow.
Now we leave Hesam to his woes and look in on the court of King Brandyn during this time period. The rich lord of the castle had a lovely daughter
That was y-clepped Dame [Hadwig]—
The fairest levedi, for the nones,
That might gon on bodi and bones,
Ful of [joy] and of godenisse—
Ac no man may telle hir fairnise. (Sir Orfeo ll.51-6)
One of Hadwig’s companions was the maiden who brought Hesam his meals. The young maiden told the princess about the noble prisoner; she told of his obvious strength and of his exotic handsomeness but she also told of how courteous he was. Hadwig became enamoured of Hesam and resolved to meet him, in secret.
The next day, when it came time for Hesam’s meal, Hadwig disguised herself by wearing her handmaiden’s clothes and brought him his food along with a cup of wine. During his meal, they shared soft words.
[Both] were thay gladde and blithe.
Quen aythir of othir hade a sighte,
Suche a lufve betuene hom lighte,
That partut nevyr thayre lyve. (Sir Amadace ll.609-12)
For the next forty days, the princess continued to visit Hesam. The more they spoke together the more Hadwig’s love for the handsome prisoner grew.
One evening, during a meal, King Brandyn announced that he had found a suitable husband for his brilliantly beautiful daughter. Hadwig was now engaged to the wealthy king Yngvarr of Demetia. When she visited her one true love in his prison, Hadwig tearfully told him of her father’s decision and that she was to leave in the morning. Hesam promised that when he was released, he would find and rescue her no matter how difficult it proved.
‘[Darling]’ quath heo, ‘trewe,
Ihc wene ihcmai the leve.
Tak nu her this gold ring;
God him is the dubbing.
Ther is upon the ringe
Igrave “[Hadwig] the yonge”;
Ther nis no betere anonder sunne,
That eni man of telle cunne.
For my luve thu hit were,
And on thi finger thu him bere. (King Horn ll.561-70)
They exchanged a tearful kiss and she departed. Throughout that night Hesam prayed unsuccessfully, as he had for so long, to Yggoril. As the first sunbeams entered the room where the sultan’s son was imprisoned, a new prayer rose in Hesam’s heart.
He seyde, ‘Dere Godde, wo is me,
I have loste my [one true love],
And am myselfe alone.
I am as kerefull a manne
As any with tonge telle can,
To God I make my mone.
God, as thou werest hevenn crowne,
Wysse me the wey to [exit this prison],
For all amysse have I gone.’ (Sir Isumbras ll.376-84)
The guard outside of Hesam’s door overheard his heartfelt words. The young squire promptly informed his superior, who was the good and loyal knight named Agobard, of the prisoner’s extraordinary words. This worthy knight visited the distraught Hesam and offered him freedom if he was willing to convert to Christianity. That is how a sultan’s son came to follow the Heavenly Father.
Agobard, being in king Brandyn’s confidence, advised him to knight Hesam since the Arabian prince had already proven his outstanding prowess in battle as well as his willingness to serve the cause of the Lord Saviour. However, shortly before the knighting ceremony Hesam heard rumours of trouble brewing in his native country. Overwhelmed by his concern for his father the sultan, the noble prince requested that he be allowed to lead a small group of knights into Arab lands. King Brandyn agreed but decreed that Agobard, his most loyal and trusted knight, had to stay in Cornwall. Hesam and his knights embarked upon the sea; they floated on the waters for forty days. Without a lie, they lived to tell the tale of their adventures; as you will learn if you keep your ears open.
When the bold and free knights arrived in the lands belonging to Hesam’s father they were too late. A rival sultan had attacked, killed the entire royal family, and placed their heads upon pikes outside the city gates. The only remaining heir swore to avenge his family’s honour and asked his knights for their assistance. The noble knights pledged their loyalty to Hesam and all of them disguised themselves and concealed their weapons before going within the gates. When the guards at the entrance of the palace saw them, they asked Hesam and his companions what their business was.
Hi seden hi weren harpurs,
And sume were gigours.
He dude [Hesam] in late,
Right at halle gate.
He sette him on the benche,
His harpe for to clenche. (King Horn ll.1473-8)
Hesam played his harp with enchanting skill and accompanied his music with a song that made all the people at the feast weep uncontrollably. When he saw that they were all distracted, Hesam showed his companions that it was time to attack and
He yede up to borde;
With gode suerdes orde,
[The usurper’s] crune
Ther ifulde adune;
And al his men, a rowe,
H[e] dude adun throwe.
Whanne hi weren aslaghe,
[The evil sultan] h[e] dude to-draghe. (King Horn ll.1487-94)
During the following days, Hesam and his loyal knights regained control of the sultan’s lands. The Arabian population celebrated the return of the rightful heir.
Meanwhile, Hadwig had arrived at the court of king Yngvarr and been married to him in a most unkynde way. As soon as the wedding celebrations had ended, the fair lady was secluded from the other occupants of the castle. She was kept in her chambers and only her maidens were allowed to visit. One of her companions, the same one who had brought food to Hesam, informed the lonely princess of the rumours that were circulating in Yngvarr’s castle: the unhende king was planning the demise of her father in order to acquire his lands and riches! Hadwig, fearing for the welfare of her father, sent a messenger to loyal and reliable Agobard telling him all that she had learned of her husband’s nefarious plans. When Agobard learned of king Yngvarr’s plot, he sent the same messenger to Hesam, the man traveled across the sea and into the newly liberated heathen lands. The brave messenger arrived at the new sultan’s palace in the evening. Upon reception of the missive, Hesam left his knightly companions in charge of his native lands and embarked upon a ship at first light. He floated on the sea for forty days until he arrived upon the shores of Yngvarr’s kingdom. Ywis, if you sit still a little longer, you will hear the end of his adventures.
On the day of that noble youth’s arrival it so happened that a festival was getting under way. King Yngvarr and his advisors had organized a tournament through which they would be able to select the strongest and most skilled knights in attendance. Hesam on his way to the king’s castle, met a pilgrim who told him of the festival and tournament. That handsome and royal youth thanked the pious man for his tidings and went on his way. Further down the road, Hesam was attacked by a knight that was eager to kill Saracens. The skilful and strong prince easily defeated the knight by giving him such a blow on the neck that the head rolled off of his shoulders and onto the road. Hesam took the knight’s armour and weapons and went on his way. When he was close to the site of the festival, the brave and noble youth met a child who offered him blessings and prayers for success in the name of Our Lord King in Heaven.
Hesam, his features disguised within the knight’s armour and helm, joined the tournament. Every morning before going to the combats, “[h]e lokede on the ringe,/[a]nd thoghte on [Hadwig].” (King Horn ll.1485-6) This simple act gave him the strength to win much honour. When the three days were done, noble Hesam had won the most combats. King Yngvarr was impressed and invited him to come to that evening’s feast in the castle hall.
When he arrived the tables were already set and Hesam was invited to sit close to the king and his advisors. Hagwig was seated between the king and a duke who spoke incessantly, but throughout the entire meal her gaze always returned to the face of her one true love, which she would have recognized anywhere. When the meal ended and the boards were lifted, Yngvarr and his knightly advisors approached Hesam and asked him to join their ranks, telling him of their plan and promising him rich rewards. One look across the room at the radiantly beautiful Hadwig convinced the noble and courageous prince that it was time to rescue his beloved. In a swift and smooth movement, Hesam drew his scimitar and cut off the head of one of the advisors. While the king and his companions were drawing out their weapons another one of them was mortally wounded, his forearm having been sliced cleanly from his body. The other guests of the feast all ran from the hall, screaming for the guards. Hadwig was pulled away by one of them, no amount of struggle allowed her to get free until they were outside. Meanwhile, in the king’s hall, combat raged on. Hesam was at the center of a whirlwind of metal and blood, limbs and guts flying away from him in all direction. King Yngvarr stayed away from the combat until all of his knights and guards laid dead and mangled at Hesam’s feet. The noble and courageous youth glared at the unkynde king across the field of corpses, Yngvarr dropped his sword, turned tail, and ran. He was never to be seen again in this or any other country since as he ran his foot slipped in a puddle of blood, he fell and cracked his skull.
As Hesam went out of the bloodied hall to search for his beloved, the sound of horses, armoured men and trumpets was heard. It was the noble king Brandyn and his loyal knights who were coming to declare war upon Yngvarr for his treachery. After learning of Hesam’s adventures and recent exploits, Hadwig’s father was so impressed that he knighted him on the spot. The newly knighted youth and his one true love were wedded forty days later. King Brandyn took over Demetia and the two lovebirds went to live in Arabia, where they built many churches and spread far and wide the word of Our Lord King of Heaven and true Almighty. Agobard married the resourceful maiden who had been a constant companion to Hadwig and when king Brandyn died the loyal Agobard was given stewardship of all the lands of Cornwall and Demetia. As it is told in books, all of them had many descendants and their legacies live on.
Here ends the story of Hesam the noble Saracen.
Jesu Criste, hevenne kynge,
Graunte us all thy blessynge,
F[o]r now and evurmore. (Sir Isumbras ll.796-8)
