The Lay of Princess Lune (II)

THE PRIEST (lines 41 - 100).

This is the second instalment of the lay; here are the other published instalments, in case you’re up to a different one:

I. PROLOGUE

(you are here)

III. THE ICY WOOD

IV. THE CASTLE

V. THE MADMAN

VI. THE MONSTER

FINALE

Maxton Church (2024).

II. THE PRIEST

The breeze blew east, past woods and wells,
And found the sun and heard the bells
Of distant steeples in small towns
Where priests would praise in home-spun gowns.

A young knight-errant lingered there,
And stopped a priest with language fair
To ask where some old road would go,
Which wandered westwards through the snow.
'You see, I thought I saw,' said he,
'A second moon, pale as can be,
Far down that road, by cloud shadowed.
What lies that way? Some fey abode?'

'Ah yes,' replied the learnéd sage,
'There dwells a moonfey in a cage.
A monster has ensnared her light,
And drinks her blood to keep his might.'

'I must away to free this fey,'
The knight exclaimed. 'I cannot stay.'
The priest reached out a steady hand,
And prayed a moment with the man.
The knight then paused and took a breath.
To be so brash might lead to death.
'What danger might I find, questing
Along that road, by night resting?'

'In that dark realm, you'll find no day,'
The priest replied, 'and so your way
Will be to always follow the
Moonfey, afar, which you did see.
As to the danger of the road,
Be careful not to tempt or goad
The dryads of the icy wood;
Shadow your face with this white hood.'

The priest then gave the knight this gift:
A shroud, the like which often sifts
The living from the dead after
A battle takes all those who err.

'Indeed, I thank you,' said the knight,
And tucked the garment out of sight.
He checked the edge of his bright sword
And gripped its hilt of leather cord.

As evening crept across the sky,
The priest breathed deep, and then did sigh.
'So long, I've waited for a knight
Who also saw the moonfey's light.
For few at all can see her glow;
I've come to think that it does show
A fate entwined close with her own;
Had I no sheep, I'd leave this home
To venture out and fight that beast,
But now I know, advice, at least,
Is what I'm tasked to give to you --
The rightful knight to venture true.
And so I will say this before
You take that road to castle's door,
A warning to take to his lair
Of all the trials you'll find there ...
You journey to a sleepless place
Where dreamless men have left their trace,
A thirst for blood, their only thought;
In their vile way, do not be caught.'

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TO BE CONTINUED …

The night had come, the wind was cold;
In western clouds, the thunder rolled;
The faerie moon, above, away,
Made shadows on the road at play;
The knight set out upon his quest
Into the icy, darkling west;
Ere long, the town was lost to sight;
Into the woods then went the knight [...]

Click here for the next instalment.

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